Mirchi Vada | Mirchi Bada

Mirchi vada recipe with step by step photos. These are stuffed chili fritters from the Rajasthani cuisine. They make for a good tea time spicy snack served with a side of tamarind chutney or tomato ketchup.

I had made the mirchi bada on one of these days when it was raining very heavily here. Did manage to take pics and add the recipe too.

To make these mirchi vada, you need large chilies, which are not spicy and are mild. I have used bhavnagari chilies. You can also use large green chilies which are used in making stuffed chili pickle. If you live outside India, then you can use jalapeno peppers.

The stuffing is a spiced mashed potato one. Crushed fennel seeds are added in the mashed potatoes, which gives the potatoes a unique flavor, unlike other variations of stuffed mirchi pakoda. I make one more variation which is more South Indian style and if possible I will share this version too.

They are a popular street food snack in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. They are also called as stuffed chili cutlet.

These mirchi bada can be served hot with tomato ketchup or with imli chutney along with bread slices. Serve these crisp spicy vada as an evening monsoon tea time snack.

How to make Mirchi Bada

1. Rinse the bhavnagari chilies very well with water. Then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. Remove the chili crowns, if you want. I always remove them.

2. With a knife slit each chili from one side. Slit from the top and keep about 0.5 to 1 cm space at the bottom before the slit. Remove the seeds and the pith.

3. Slit all the green chilies this way and keep them aside. If you want you can blanch the chilies also before stuffing them with the mashed potatoes.

Making stuffing

4. Steam or boil potatoes in a stovetop pressure cooker or steamer till they are cooked very well.

5. When the potatoes are still warm, peel and mash them with a potato mashed or spoon.

6. Then add the following ingredients to the mashed potatoes:

• 1 green chili, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander leaves
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
• ½ teaspoon coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder)
• ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
• ¼ teaspoon red chili powder

7. Mix very well. Check the taste and add more salt or the spice powders if required.

Making mirchi vada

8. Now stuff the potato mixture very well in the green chilies.

9. Stuff all green chilies this way. Keep aside.

10. In a bowl take 1 cup besan along with ¼ teaspoon red chili powder and a pinch of asafoetida (hing). You can also add a pinch of baking soda, if you want.

11. Add ½ cup + 2 tablespoon water to make a medium thick batter. Also add salt as required. Do add water as required.

The addition of water depends on the quality of the besan. Since I use home made besan, the water amount required is more than store brought one. So add about ⅓ cup water first and then add some tablespoons to get the right consistency.

12. Stir very well to get a medium thick batter without any lumps. In case the batter becomes thin, then add a few more tablespoons of besan to thicken the batter.

Frying mirchi vada

13. Heat oil in a kadai or pan. You can use any neutral flavored oil. When the oil becomes medium hot, dip the stuffed chilli in the batter.

14. Coat it very well with the batter.

15. Place it in medium hot oil gently.

16. Add more chili pakoras in the oil and fry them till they are golden. Be careful when turning or flipping the pakoras in the oil.

17. When golden and crisp, remove the mirchi vada.

18. Place mirchi vada on a kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil.

19. Serve these Rajasthani mirchi bada hot with tomato ketchup, coriander chutney, tamarind chutney and slices of bread along with ginger tea or filter coffee.

If you are looking for more Pakora recipes then do check:

• Mirchi bajji
• Mirchi pakoda
• Paneer pakoda
• Onion pakoda
• Palak pakoda

Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more veetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Mirchi Vada (Stuffed Mirchi Bada)

By Dassana Amit

Rajasthani mirchi vada recipe is a popular street food snack of stuffed chili fritters.

4.82 from 11 votes

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Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Cuisine Rajasthani

Course Snacks

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Servings 3 to 4

Units

Ingredients

for stuffing mirchi vada

• ▢ 250 grams potatoes or 4 medium potatoes, boiled and mashed
• ▢ 1 green chili – chopped
• ▢ 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves
• ▢ ½ teaspoon fennel seeds – crushed
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder) or add as per taste
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
• ▢ 1 pinch asafoetida
• ▢ salt as required

for mirchi vada batter

• ▢ 1 cup besan (gram flour or chickpea flour)
• ▢ ½ cup water + 2 tablespoon, do add water as required
• ▢ 1 pinch asafoetida (hing)
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
• ▢ 1 pinch baking soda (optional)
• ▢ salt as required

other ingredients

• ▢ 200 to 250 grams or 8 to 9 bhavnagri chilies or large mild chilies or jalapeno peppers
• ▢ oil for deep frying

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark while making the recipe

Instructions

 

preparation for mirchi vada

• Rinse the bhavnagari chilies very well with water. Then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel. Remove the chili crowns.
• With a knife slit each chili from one side. Slit from the top and keep about 0.5 to 1 cm space at the bottom before the slit. Remove the seeds.
• Slit all the green chilies this way and keep aside.

making stuffing for mirchi vada

• Steam or boil potatoes in a pressure cooker or steamer till they are cooked very well.
• When the potatoes are still warm, peel and mash them.
• Add 1 green chili, chopped, 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves, 1/2 tsp fennel seeds, crushed, 1/2 tsp coriander powder, 1/2 tsp dry mango powder, 1/4 tsp cumin powder and 1/4 tsp red chili powder. Mix very well.

making mirchi vada

• Now stuff the potato mixture very well in the green chilies.
• Stuff all green chilies this way. Keep aside.
• In a bowl take 1 cup besan along with 1/4 tsp red chili powder and a pinch of asafoetida.
• Add 1/2 cup water + 2 tbsp to make a medium thick batter. Also add salt. Add water as required. 
• The addition of water depends on the quality of besan. Since I use home made besan, the water amount required is more than store brought one. So add about 1/3 cup water first and then add some tablespoons to get the right consistency.

frying mirchi vada

• Dip the stuffed chilli in the batter and coat it very well with the batter.
• Place it in medium hot oil gently.
• Add more chili pakora in the oil and fry them till they are golden. Be careful when turning or flipping the pakoras in the oil.
• When golden and crisp, remove the mirchi vada.
• Place them on a kitchen paper towels to remove excess oil.
• Serve Rajasthani Mirchi Bada hot with tomato ketchup, coriander chutney with evening chai.

Notes

Substitutions
1/2 tsp dry mango powder – 1/2 tsp lemon juice or add as per taste.
Bhavnagri chilies – large chilies used for pickling or jalapeno peppers

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This Mirchi Bada post from the archives first published in June 2015 has been updated and republished on January 2023.