Chettinad Vazhaipoo Vadai Recipe - Banana Flower/Plantain Flower Vadai/Fritters

Banana flower/Vazhai Poo is well known for its medicinal properties.

My mother use to say it’s good for women, especially young girls since it is rich in iron and helps to reduce menstrual problems.

I’m sure kids will love it.

Ingredients:

Banana Flower - 1

Toor Dhal/ Thuvaram Paruppu - 1/2 Cup

Sombhu/Fennel Seeds - 1 tsp.

Seeragam/Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp.

Red Chilli - 8 to 10

Manjal thool/Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp

Perungayam/Asafetida - 1/8 tsp.

Salt - to taste

Garnish - Coriander leaves

Chopped Curry leaves - few

Finely Chopped Big Onion - 2

Method:

Rinse and soak the Toor Dhal/Thuvaram Paruppu for 1 hour.

Drain the all  water and mix the dhal with cumin, fennel seeds and chilli. Grind it into a coarse paste.

Remove the the thin (nerve like) stem from each floret and chop them.

Grind the florets in a mixer adding little water before mixing with the ground Thuvaram Paruppu/Toor dhal.

Stir in the salt, asafetida, turmeric powder, chopped onion, chopped curry leaves, chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Vadai batter is ready.

Make small vadais and fry it until it turns crispy.

 

Banana Flower Vadais can be taken as snacks or it can be a great accompaniment for Sambhar Rice or Curd Rice.

Vazhai Thandu Poriyal Plantain stem/ Banana Stem Stir Fry

Vazhai Thandu /Plantain stem stir fry is a very simple yet very tasty dish. It’s very mild and it can be served to young kids too.

Plantain stem has numerous health benefits such as weight reduction, detoxification, treating and preventing kidney stones.

Ingredients:

Vazhai Thandu/Plantain stem - 1

Small onion - 5 to 6

Or Big Onion - 1

Red Chilli/green Chilli - 1

Salt - to taste

 

Tempering:

Oil - 2 tsp.

Mustard Seeds - 1/4 tsp.

Curry leaves - few

Method:

Remove the fibre(Naaru In Tamil) from the stem and cut into circles. Now chop the circles into small dices.

Chop onions and slit the Chilli into half.

Take a pan, pour oil and add mustard and curry leaves. Then add chopped onions and Chilli. Sauté for two minutes.

Add chopped plantain stem  and give it a stir.  Pour little water and cover for few minutes.

Now add salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Delicious and healthy Vazhai Thandu Poriyal/Plantain stem stir fry is ready. Can be taken as a mid-meal snack or it can be taken with Sambhar rice or Spicy Puzhi Kozhambu rice.

Chettinad Style Sambhar Podi/Sambhar Powder Recipe

Sambhar Podi is something which makes the Sambhar, Puzhi Kuzhambu, Vegetable curries very tasty and flavourful.  We can even use Sambhar Podi for Non-veg items.

Though we have umpteen number of 'Ready-made' Sambhar powder varieties, nothing can beat the flavour of fresh 'Home-made Sambhar Powder.

This is my Mother's recipe, she uses more chilly, because my father likes spicy dishes. You can adjust the amount of chilli according to your taste.

Virali Manjal/Whole turmeric

Ingredients:

Sambha/Gundu Chilli/(short and Stout variety) - 1 Kg

Malli Vithai/Dhaniya/Coriander Seeds - 1/2 Kg

Sombhu/Fennel Seeds/Perunjeeragam - 1/2 Cup (about100gms)

Seeragam/Cumin Seeds - 1/2 Cup

Kadalai Paruppu/Split Channa Dhal - 1/2 Cup

Thuvaram Paruppu/Toor Dhal - 1/2 Cup

Pacharisi/Raw Rice - 1/2 Cup (use small rice variety - not basmathi type)

Milagu/Pepper - 1/4 Cup (about 50gms) 

Vendhayam/Fenugreek seeds - 1/4 cup

Virali Manjal/Dried whole turmeric - About 8 to 10 pieces 

Method:

Take all the other ingredients except Malli/Coriander seeds, whole turmeric/Manjal and Chilli/Milagai, Saute in a pan for few minutes in low heat, just to emanate flavour and get rid of moisture content. 

Spread it in a large plate/bowl and let it cool.

Mix all the ingredients and grind it in a Rice Mill or Flour Mill in your town.

Let it cool before storing the Sambhar Powder in Air-tight containers.

The above said ingredients will yield good 2 kilos of Sambhar Powder, store the excess powder in refrigerator.

Tips, tips, tips...

Indian Rice Mill/Flour Mill in Singapore:

I went to Alexandra Mills in Singapore. It is located near Sri Ruthra Kaliamman Temple in Depot Road. Few minutes walk from the Temple.

Address:  Alexandra Mills, 4008 Depot Lane, #01-98, Bukit Merah, Singapore 109762.

Telephone: 6270 7324.