Bread Vada Recipe (Air Fryer & Oven Options)
Updated: August 19, 2023, By Swasthi
Bread Vada is an easy and quick snack made with bread, flour, carrots, onions, chilies, herbs and spices. These crisp fried patties make a great tea-time Snack & can be eaten on their own. They are best served with some masala chai or ketchup, Green chuntey, Mint chutney or any other dip. Often I am left with a few slices of bread which isn’t enough to serve my family. This recipe comes handy in such times. For a healthier option, you can also air fry these or bake in the oven which I have been doing lately.
If you are new to the Indian cuisine and wondering what is vada? Vada is a popular South Indian fritter usually made with lentils. Thanks to the leftover bread here! It helps us make these vadas without having to soak and grind the lentils to make the batter.
About Bread Vada
These bread vada are the instant kind and are similar to Maddur vada and Rava Vada. But here we use bread as the main ingredient.
So next time you have some left over slices of bread, try out this recipe. You can also make the dough ahead and use it when you are ready to serve. Here I have not used potatoes and went ahead with carrots and onions. On occasions I add a small boiled potato, spinach or some coarsely crushed sweet corn to make the dough.
I have used multigrain bread, in fact you can use any that you have including white bread. Rice flour goes well in this recipe as it adds some crispness to the bread vada. You may use cornstarch if you do not have rice flour.
Making these in the air fryer is even faster and you know why if you have been using one.
More Bread snacks recipes
Bread Upma
Paneer Toast
Bread pakora
Garlic cheese toast
Bread pizza
French toast
Photo Guide
How to Make Bread Vada (Stepwise photos)
Preparation
1. I have used 3 multigrain bread slices. You may use white bread as well.
2. Tear them to bite sized pieces.
3. Add the following
- ½ cup carrots grated (1 large)
- ¼ cup onions finely chopped (1 medium)
- 1 green chili chopped
- 2 tablespoons mint leaves – finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
4. Next add in salt as needed and ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds.
5. Add 1 red chilli cut-up (or red chilli flakes). Sprinkle some ½ teaspoon garam masala as well.
6. Mix up everything and sprinkle little water.
7. Mix up and make a dough.
8. I used 2 tablespoons rice flour to make them crispy.
9. Mix and make a stiff dough.
10. Divide the dough to 8 portions and make round balls. Then flatten them. Do not make them too thick. They must be thin.
11. Make them uniform and keep them in a plate.
Fry Bread Vada
If you want to air fry or bake, please scroll down to find the recipe card.
12. Heat oil in a pan. When it is hot enough fry the bread vada.
13. Flip them and fry until golden and crisp on both sides.
14. When golden and crisp remove them.
15. Transfer to a kitchen tissue.
Serve bread vada as a evening snack with chutney, sauce or tea.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card
Bread Vada Recipe
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 3 slices bread
- ½ cup carrots grated (1 large)
- ¼ cup onions finely chopped (1 medium)
- 1 green chili chopped
- 1 red chilli cut – optional
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- salt as needed
- 2 tablespoons mint leaves – finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons coriander leaves – finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
- ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 tablespoons rice flour or corn starch or maida
- 2 tablespoons water
- oil for frying
Instructions
Preparation
- Tear the bread slices to pieces. Add them to a mixing bowl.
- Add ginger, carrots, onions, pudina, coriander leaves, salt, green chili, red chili, cumin, garam masala. Mix them gently and check if water is needed. If the veggies used has lot of moisture then you may not need any water.
- Add 1 to 2 tbsp water if needed and begin to mix. Add rice flour and make a non-sticky dough.
How to Make Bread Vada
- Heat oil for frying. Divide the mixture to 7 to 8 parts and make balls.
- Flatten them gently and make a patty. Do not make thick patties, they should be thin otherwise the vada will have the taste of dough.
- Gently slide these in hot oil and fry on a medium heat. These tend to turn brown quickly, so keep watching.
- Fry them stirring often and turn to the other side. When bread vada turns golden, remove them to a kitchen tissue.
- Serve bread vada hot with any chutney or tea.
In the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer at 390 F (200 C) for at least 15 mins. Brush the vadas with oil or ghee and place then in the basket and air fry for 10 to 12 mins, turning them to the other side after 5 to 6 mins.
- Adjust the timings as needed depending on your air fryer and the size of your vadas. I prefer to brush them with ghee after they are done.
In the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 400 F (210 C) for at least 15 mins, Brush the bread vada with oil or ghee and place them on a parchment paper.
- Bake them for 14 to 16 mins until crisp and golden, depending on the size of your vadas.
Video
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
Hi Swasthi,
I’ve been following your recipes for a while now! And I love all of your recipes! Thank you soo soo much!! ❤️❤️
I tried this one too but in the air fryer! Came out amazing!!??
I noticed there was no instructions for the air fryer, so just thought I’ll put it in the comment .
I preheated the air fryer for 5 mins. Then I put the vadas brushed with oil in at 390 for 10 mins. Flipped them half way.
Hi Pranjali,
Good to know! Thank you so much for pointing that. I wrote in the intro about air frying but forgot to update it the instructions. Thanks again for following the recipes.
🙂
SO good! And SO quick! Perfect for a late night snack – most probably will try this again 🙂
Thank you
Hi Swasthi,
Can we bake the bread vada instead of deep frying?
Hi Anusha
Rice flour won’t cook well if baked. So use finely powdered poha or powdered roasted gram (roasted chana dal). Brush the vadas with oil and bake at 360 F for 8 to 9 mins. Adjust the timings depending on the size and thickness.
Thank you??
Welcome Zahera
Was surprised by such a tasty snack with so little effort. Awesome idea, thank you for the recipe
Welcome Nirmala
Can It be possible to pan fry bread vadas instead of deep frying?
Yes you can pan fry. But substitute rice flour with poha powder
This is such a simple and quick snack. Loved this idea. Turned out so crispy and tasty.
Thank you Winnie
Superb! Very innovative idea. Everyone loved it!
Thank you!
Vow! Great & very useful.
Thank you
Tried this ….yummy !!!!!
Thanks for trying.
Too good nd healthy snack, quick, tasty and easy to find items.
Delicious
Thank you
Recipes r excellent swathi?
Thank you
Hi Swasthi,
Couldn’t find bread upma recipe on your blog, can you please post.
Hi Kavitha
How are you? Yes I will share it soon. Thank you
Hi Swasthi,
I am doing good, thank you so much for asking. Have been trying numerous recipes from your blog, most of them are turning out good. Your blog has turned me from an average cook to a good cook, hoping to become a better one soon.
Can you also please share poori recipe, i couldn’t find one.
Thank you once again.
Welcome Kavitha
Very glad to know the recipes have been useful. Yes I will try to post bread upma, rava dosa and poori recipes soon. Having been getting many requests for them.
Thanks for your interest in the blog.
Happy sunday!!
Is the rice flour important can we make it with any other type of flour
Yes you can add corn flour or maida.