Vazhai Poo Pachadi - Banana Blossom In Spicy Curd

VAZHAI POO PACHADI 

 We brought a banana sapling from our native village and  planted it in a corner in our garden. It has grown into a beautiful and sturdy banana tree without the use of  chemical fertilizers or pesticides. 

The banana tree has gifted us with a huge bunch of healthy bananas which will be ready for harvest in a few weeks.

We were happy to cook the vazhai poo / banana blossom that came along as a 'complimentary gift'  on Mother Earth Day! 

 Beat the heat of a hot Summer day as you enjoy the cold Vazhai Poo Pachadi.

INGREDIENTS 

Chopped banana blossom florets - 2 cups 

Fresh grated coconut - 1/2 cup 

Green chillies - 2 

Finely grated fresh ginger - 1/4 tsp 

Thick Curds - 2 cups 

Salt - 1/4 tsp 

Coconut oil - 1 tsp 

Mustard seeds - 1 pinch
Curry leaves - a few

METHOD 

1. Remove the florets of the banana blossom hiding in between the bracts. 

2. Rub the tip of each floret gently and remove the stigma and the plasticky sepal. 

3. Chop the florets into small pieces and immediately immerse them in a bowl of sour butter milk. 

4. Squeeze out the chopped florets and cook them in just enough water and a pinch of salt till tender but not      mushy. Let it cool. 

5. Grind the coconut gratings and green chillies into a thick and coarse paste. 

6. Combine the coconut paste with the thick curds adding salt and grated ginger. 

7. Mix the cooked banana florets into the curd mixture.

8. Heat the oil and add the mustard seeds. 

9. When the mustard seeds splutter add curry leaves and  pour the seasoning over the pachadi. 

10. Chill the Vazhai Poo Pachadi well before use.

Enjoy the chilled Vazhai Poo Pachadi as it is or along with your meal.

Urad Sweet Bonda / Deep Fried Sweet Vadas with Urad Dhal / Indian Zeppoles

Do you have some family recipes which you have almost forgotten about. Well, I had forgotten about these beautiful Sweet Urad vadas until my sister reminded about them recently. She had made these for Pongal festival for offering to god. These sweet vadas (or vadeyvu/vadaevu as we call it in our home) is a must in our family for all festivals and marriages. They are similar to Medhu vadas, but

Homemade Ritz Crackers

I really want to write my experience when I baked these Ritz cracker. but it is already late night here and it is been a week since I updated my blog. So I am jumping to the recipe directly to day. This recipe is adopted from spicy treats where she adopted it from Cupcake project.

Basic Information:
Preparation Time: 25 minutes
Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes
Makes: more than 3 dozens (based on  the thickness of  Ritz cracker, It might vary)

Ingredients:

All Purpose Flour / Maida / Plain Flour - 1 cup
Baking Powder - 1 and 1/2 teaspoon
Sugar - 1/2 tablespoon
Salt - 1/4 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon for topping
Cold unsalted butter - 3 tablespoon + 1 and 1/2 tablespoons for brushing, melted
Oil - 1 tablespoon
Water - 1/3 cup

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 400F. Line the baking tray with the baking sheet.
2) In a mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar and  1/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix well till all the ingredients are incorporated well.
3) Add cold unsalted butter to the mixing bowl and mix well.
4) Next, add oil and mix well.

5) Now, Start adding water slowly / little at a time and mix the flour using your hand. Add water till you get a smooth dough.
6) Very slightly knead it and divide into medium sized balls.

7) With the help of flour, roll out each medium sized dough balls as thin as you can.
8) Using a cookie cutter cut the dough.  Use any of your favourite shaped cookie cutter. 

 

9) Arrange them in baking tray. Repeat this step for remaining dough balls.
10) Using a fork, make holes in each of the ritz pattern. Putting holes in the cookie helps the cookie to bake correctly.

11) Bake them in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until the crackers become slightly golden brown. It took 15 minutes for me to get crisp cookies
12) When cookies are in the oven, melt the remaining butter and mix it with salt.
13) When the cookies are out of oven, brush them immediately using the melted butter and salt mix. I skipped this part and added more salt while making dough. It is up to you to prepare your preference.
14) Cool slightly and enjoy with tea.