Vazhaipoo vadai / Banana blossom fritters
Ingredients:-
Banana blossom - 1 (med sized)
Channa / gram dhal - 200 g
( soaked for 2 hours )
Onion - 1 med sized ( finely chopped )
Green chillies - 3 nos
Ginger - 1 inch ( finely chopped )
Curry leaves & Coriander leaves - few
Saunf / Fennel seeds- 1 TSP
Rice flour - 2 TSP
Salt as required
Asafoetida - 1/4 TSP
Oil for deep fry
Vazhaipoo vadai / Banana Blossom Vadai is unlike any other common South Indian fritters. The uniqueness of this recipe is that the banana blossoms are ground and added to the batter. Removing the Pistils and the Calyx from the banana blossoms will cut the bitterness from it. This is one of the tastiest vadais. Its very crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. These need to be had hot. Otherwise they lose their crispness when cold. Prepare more than you think you will need as everyone almost always come for second servings. It is perfect for an evening snack.
The banana blossoms needs to be cleaned well before it can be cooked with.
Here is how to do it.
Cleaning the banana blossom may stain your fingers. The black sap that comes from the florets may leave stained fingers and clothes. Apply oil to your hands before cleaning.
If you remove the reddish leaves, there will be yellow tipped florets that we will be cooking with. These are soon to be bananas. The florets needs to be cleaned though. Remove each floret and pull the stick like pistil with a bulgy top to the right. This is very bitter and inedible, When you pull the pistil to your right, the calyx (the small, thick, light pink color petal like thing) will come out. Remove that too.
Remove the pistil and calyx and discard. They are inedible. We will be cooking with the florets.After removing 5-6 layers of the maroon leaves, the florets inside will be very young. They need not be cleaned. They can be used as such. The inner hearts are also edible. They can be cut and used.
Storing:
Take a bowl and add water to it. Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl. Soak the cleaned florets in it. Many people in India use buttermilk. But I have found that salt+water solution keeps the florets from becoming bitter and more effective. The florets needs to be immediately soaked in the water+salt mixture to avoid discoloring and also to avoid it becoming bitter. You can keep this in the fridge and use it the next day. Drain the water completely before using.
9 сен 2024
