What is Bonda ?
Bonda is a lentil or a vegetable dumpling that's usually deep fried and eaten as is with chutney or sauce. Usually Bondas are made of mixed lentils or potato as a base. Dunked in a chickpea / besan slurry and deep fried. Served as a snack with Chutney / sambhar
What is Bonda Soup?
This is a soup made with a no-fry bonda - a delicious protein rich appetiser that's made with everyday pantry essentials . Bonda Soup like Rasam vada is a fried (or in this case non-fried) lentil snack soaked in a delicious broth. Very Popular in Darshini / self help eateries sprinkled all over Bangalore, this protein rich snack / appetiser is perfect in the rains / chilly weather.
Completely GlutenFree and Vegan, this makes for the perfect dish during parties / potlucks, and the bondas are no fry , which means they can be made ahead of time too! Try this and let me know how you liked it. A similar variant of a dumpling in a lentil broth is this Burmese Samusa Thouk which is a street food delicacy too !

How is this Darshini Style Bonda Soup different from other Bonda Soup?
The addition of Karnataka style Menthyada hittu / Methkoot powder (an aromatic lentil + fenugreek seeds powder) makes this home style / Darshini Style Bonda Soup stand out. Commercially, Bonda Soup also uses onion and garlic which this style doesn't use.
5 reasons to make this delicious Darshini Style Bonda Soup
- Protein Rich and very nutritious especially for growing up kids and elderly too!
- 100% Gluten Free and Vegan, Satvik too (no onion no garlic)
- No Deep fry needed
- Has a double dose of protein (both on the Bonda and the soup)
- Easy to prep ahead for party / potluck for a large crowd

Darshini Style Bonda Soup - GF, Vegan and No onion no garlic recipe
Cuisine - South Indian, Course - Snack / appetiser
Prep time - 15 mins, Soaking + grinding time - 6 hours, Serves - 6
1 cup = 200 ml
PIN FOR LATER

What you need:
To soak for 4 hours and grind to a smooth paste with the following spices:
- ½ cup split green gram (Moong dal)
- ½ cup bengal gram (Channa Dal)
- 2 tablespoon Split pigeon pea
- Brown Rice - 3 TBSP
Spices:
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (Jeera)
- ½ teaspoon ginger (crushed)
- 1 tablespoon Cilantro leaves
- ½ teaspoon whole black pepper(crushed)
- ¼ teaspoon Cooking soda (just before making the bonda)
- ½ teaspoon salt

To make the soup base:
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 150 grams Cooked Pigeon Pea
- 2 Tomatoes (about 100 grams)
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ inch Ginger
- ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 2 Green chillies
- ½ teaspoon Mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 3 tablespoon Menthyada Hittu spice powder / Methkoot powder
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon Coriander leaves - 1 tsp
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice (optional)

Method to make Bonda Soup:
- Wash and soak the lentils in warm water for 4 hours
- Once dals are soaked, drain them and grind them slightly coarse with the whole spices mentioned in the ingredient list above!
- Soak and Cook the Toor dal mentioned in Soup base with ¼ cup of water with a pinch of turmeric
- Chop the tomatoes and keep aside
- Make the Methkoot Powder as described in the recipe link here.
- For further steps, Check the Video recipe embedded below and let us know how you liked it.
- Be sure to click like and subscribe (dont forget to click on the bell icon for all video notifications from our channel)

Darshini Style Bonda Soup | No Fry Bonda Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Soak and Grind:
- ½ cup Split Green gram Moong dal
- ½ cup Bengal Gram Channa Dal
- 2 tablespoon split pigeon pea Toor dal
- 3 tablespoon Brown Rice
Spices:
- ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds Jeera
- ½ teaspoon Ginger crushed
- 1 tablespoon Green coriander leaves
- ½ teaspoon Whole Black Pepper crushed
- ¼ teaspoon Cooking soda just before making the bonda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon Oil
To make the soup base:
- 150 grams split pigeon pea cooked
- 2 Tomatoes about 100 grams
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric
- ½ inch Ginger
- ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
- 2 Green chillies Jeera
- ½ teaspoon Mustard Seeds
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder
- 3 tablespoon Menthyada Hittu spice powder / Methkoot powder
Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon Green coriander leaves
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice optional
Instructions
- Wash and soak the lentils in warm water for 4 hours
- Once dals are soaked, drain them and grind them slightly coarse with the whole spices mentioned in the ingredient list above!
- Soak and Cook the Toor dal mentioned in Soup base with ¼ cup of water with a pinch of turmeric
- Chop the tomatoes and keep aside
- Make the Methkoot Powder as described in the recipe link here.
- For further steps, Check the Video recipe embedded below and let us know how you liked it.






Pooja Kamat says
Nice recipe. Its not always that we like fried. These paniyarams or appes as its called in south India is a nice way to include it as a breakfast dish.
Nutritious, healthy and tasty!!!
nutrihealfoods.blogspot.com
Linsy Patel says
Now this is my kinda food, I always use my paniyaram for all this kind of dishes, love the bonda and the "soup"
Priya Vj says
Bonda soup using pamiyaram pan is a superb twist as always from your end to make the dish healthy .
Shobha says
Looks so delicious. I love the idlis, vadas or bondas dunked in the sambar. Yummylicious.
Vaishali says
Interesting and healthy option ! I too live the appe pan , all my koftas and batata vadas that need frying go into this pan! A soup with bonda - awesome !
Kalyani says
thanks vaishali. yes appe pan is a great tool to have in the kitchen
Mayuri Patel says
An interesting recipe Kalyani. Using have had pakoda in kadhi but this is bonda in a dal base. Like how you've made it healthier by making them in a paniyaram. Perfect winter time comfort food.
Kalyani says
thanks mayuri. yeah similar to pakodi kadi yet different coz of the spice mixture + the lentil base!
Jayashree T.Rao says
Bonda Soup looks delicious and something we will relish. Will make it for our lunch.
Kalyani says
great !
Radha says
Tasty snack that fills you up with loaded flavors. I like the use of appe pan instead of deep fying.
Kalyani says
thank you!
Srivalli says
This surely sounds fantastic Kalyani, never made it but surely sounds so good to enjoy!
Kalyani says
thanks valli. do try when possible
Priya Vj says
I was always under the impression it is udad dal bondas dunked in the soup. Thanks for clarification. I liked the idea of making the bondas in paniyaram pan to reduce the oil content.
Kalyani says
its a mix of dals...