Vazhaipoo Vadai / Banana Blossom Vada | Indian Appetizers

Vazhaipoo / Banana Blossom / Banana heart is the flower of the plantain tree. It is commonly used in many south-asian dishes steamed, fried or cooked in curries and stir fries. It is healthy and has a great taste. The most common dish prepared with banana heart at our home is vadas.






Ingredients:
Vazhaipoo / Banana blossom - 1 - Cleaned
Chana dhal - 1 small cup - Soaked for 2 hrs
Chopped

Mixed Dal Tadka

I have been so crazy busy from the past few days. All I am thinking and dreaming is about classes and assignments. Spending the entire day at school and getting back home hungry and starving....aaaaahhhhh... I craved for good home food prepared by Mom. But life as a wife in America is all about food cravings and missing dear ones. Left with no choice I had to prepare some yummy but simple food for myself and DH. What better dish could be comforting than making Dal and Rice. I made this yummy dinner for the both of us and trust me..It was so very relaxing!!

Ingredients:

Toor Dal - 1/4 cup
Moong Dal - 1/4 cup
Masoor Dal - 1/4 cup
Turmeric powder - 1/8 tsp
Medium Tomato - 1 - Chopped
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp
Red chillies - 3-4
Curry leaves - A few
Red chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Asafoetida - A pinch
Cilantro - To garnish
Oil / Ghee - 1 tbsp
Salt - To taste

Method:

• In a vessel combine the three dals and add a pinch of turmeric powder and salt and pressure cook it for 3 whistles.

• In a wok, heat oil/ghee. add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies and curry leaves.

• Once they crackle and splutter, add the chopped tomato and cook on medium heat until the tomatoes are cooked well.

• Add asafoetida, red chilli powder and turmeric powder to the tomato mixture.

• Mash the cooked dal and add the dal to the tomato mixture. 

• Mix it all well.Garnish it with cilantro.

• Serve hot with Rice and Roti.. Enjoy the simple and comfort food that gets ready in no time.

Poha/Rice Flakes Aloo Poori/Roti

This again, another version of my Kids Favourite Poori. He can survive all 6 days of his school with this Poori as his Lunchbox/Snack Box Menu!!!!! I try to vary the taste a bit So, that I can steal something Nutritious in to his menu and at the same time , doesn't disturb his taste of Poori!!!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Brown Rice Flakes/Brown Poha

A Small Potato, Cooked & Mashed

Salt to taste

Water and Oil to Make the Dough

Oil for frying the Poori

Method

Soak the Brown Rice Flakes/Poha in Water for a minute or two and make it Soft. Take the Wheat flour, Mashed Potato and Soft Poha in a large Bowl and Mix them well with your hands, Without adding water, all the three ingredients should come together well as a sticky mass, now add little water and oil and make it a soft chapathi dough. If you want, you can add Chilli Powder/Green Chillies, Coriander Powder/leaves to make it a bit spicier, since i was making this for my Kid, i didn't add any Spice!!!! 

Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Divide the dought, roll them out as discs and Deep Fry as Poori's. Alternatively you can also cook them on a Hot Tava/Griddle as Chapathi/Roti's. The Remaining Dough can be Refrigerated and used later!!!! I was Waiting for any complaints in the afternoon!!, but thankfully, None Came!!! So, definitely it was a Hit!!! Try these Poori/Roti Variations and let me Know how did you like it!!

Sending this to Healthy Recipe Hunt - Aval/Rice Flakes/Poha, happening @ Kurinji Kathambam.