0 VAZHAIPOO VADA /BANANA BLOSSOM VADA

Banana plant/tree is one kind where we make use of all the parts which are good and beneficial for us .. like banana leaves, stem , fruit, blossom. This is one of mom's recipe of making vada with vazhapoo .. it tastes really great and some times when we have guests at home, she makes this and they really appreciate her. We can make poriyal, vada, paruppu usili with banana blossom ... here is my ( my mom's) version of banana blossom vada/vazhapoo/vazhaipoo vadai.


Vazhaipoo - 1
Channa dhal - 1 cup
Onion - 1 small chopped fine
Garlic - 4 flaked
Ginger - 3/4th inch piece
Red chillies - 2 or 3 broken into small parts
Green chillies - 2 or 3
Fennel seeds - 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves - few
Curry leaves - few
Salt as needed
Oil for frying
(OPTIONAL _Can also add a piece of clove and cinnamon when grinding for good flavor)

Wash and soak channa dhal for 2 hours
Clean vazhapoo( the trickiest part is to remove the stamen and sheath...takes time)... repeat for each flower... later chop into small pieces and immerse in water so they don't change colour. Next Boil water and add the chopped pieces along with little salt and cook for 6 - 8 mts, then drain water.


Drain water from channa dhal and grind with green chillies, garlic, ginger and ( if using clove and cinnamon) to a coarse paste... save a 2 tbsp of channa dhal without grinding...
Transfer to a bowl the ground paste, 2 tbsp of channa dhal, chopped onions, broken red chillies,fennel seeds, chopped coriander leaves, chopped curry leaves, chopped and cooked vazhapoo and enough salt ... mix well ... take a small size ball .. press lightly so it flattens up little... heat oil in a frying pan/ kadai... add the flattened balls to the hot oil and deep fry till golden brown... you can feel the smell when frying itself... take and smells good. and also a healthy dish... except the oil part.