VAZHAI THANDU KOOTU I PLANTAIN/BANANA STEM DAL CURRY I CLEANING OF PLANTAIN STEM

Hi friends, here is the simple and healthy recipe with plantain/banana stem as called as Vazhai Thandu in Tamil. Plantain stem is very healthy for kidney disorders and even you can make juice out of it and can drink with dash of spices.

My mom used to buy the plantain stem or flower weekly once and I always love the stem or flower in the form of kootu, its like hidden way of having the stem, for picky eater like me. 

Category	Side Dish
Regional	South Indian
Preparation Time	20 Minutes
Cooking Time	25-30 Minutes
Servings	4-5

Source – My Mom

INGREDIENTS

Plantain Stem – 1

Moong dal – ½ Cup

Turmeric powder – ¼ Tsp

Castor oil – 1 Tsp

Oil – 1 Tbsp

Mustard seeds – 1 Tsp  

Urad dal – 1 Tsp

Green chillies – 4, chopped

Curry leaves – Few

Shallots, chopped – ½ Cup

Coconut, scraped – 2 Tbsp

METHOD

Plantain Stem Cleaning

• Cut the outer layer of the stem.
• Cut the stem into thin discs, you can see the fibers between the dish and other part of the stem.
• Roll the fibers around your index finger as I shown in the picture.  
• Put the disc in a bowl of water, to avoid browning. Continue the process, till the last part of the stem.
• Now chop the discs into small pieces and put it in water.

Preparation of Kootu

• Boil 2 cups of water with turmeric powder and castor oil then add washed moong dal and allow cooking.
• When the dal 3/4^th cooked, add chopped plantain stem and allow cook on medium flame.

• Now heat oil in pan; add mustard, urad dal wait for sputter.
• Add green chillies and curry leaves following by add shallots sauté it till transparent.
• Then add grated coconut and fry it for one minute.

• Now add the tempered ingredients to the plantain stem and dal mixture and allow cooking till stem turns tender.
• Switch off the flame and serve it hot… 

Healthy plantain stem dal kootu...