First, wash the urad dal (white gram lentil) 2-3 times with water and soak it in water for 2 hours.
∆ (This step helps to soften the dal and makes it easier to blend.)

Gather all the ingredients for making vadas.
- Chop the shallots and dried red chilies, and add them to a mixer jar with the soaked urad dal.
- Blend the mixture, adding water only if necessary.
- Transfer the blended mixture to a bowl.

Chop one large onion and green chilies.
- Coarsely grind black pepper and cumin seeds in a mortar and pestle.
- Tear curry leaves into small pieces with your hands.

Now, add the ground black pepper and cumin powder, salt to taste, chopped green chilies and onion, asafoetida, and torn curry leaves to the blended mixture. Mix everything well.
Add rice flour to it and mix everything well. The mixture is now ready to make vadas.
∆ (This addition of rice flour will likely help bind the mixture and give the vadas a nice texture.)

Heat oil on medium flame.
- Take a small portion of the mixture, wet your hands with cold water, and shape it into a vada using your fingers. Make a hole in the center with your thumb.
- Gently place the vada in the hot oil. Continue shaping and adding vadas to the oil.
- Once the vadas turn golden brown, remove them to a plate. Repeat the process to make all the vadas.