Step 1: Plantain Flower Kootu

Ingredients needed

Plantain flower-1

Tur dal-1/4 cup

Tamarind -small gooseberry sized ball

Turmeric Powder -1/4 tsp

Chilli powder-2tsp

Coriander powder-3tsp

Onion chopped -1/2 cup

Curry leaves-3tbsp

Salt to taste

For paste

Coconut-1/2 cup

Jeera-1sp

garlic-5 cloves

Preparation

Remove the style and the small white cover from the flower (shown in the picture above). Cut banana flower finely. Keep it in diluted buttermilk to prevent discoloration.

Remove from buttermilk, rinse and keep aside

Soak tur dal

Soak tamarind in hot water, extract the juice and discard the pulp. (around 1 cup)

Grind the ingredients called coconut,jeera,garlic into to a smooth paste adding little water.

Method

Now we have plantain flower, dal and the ground paste ready. We will proceed to make vazhaipoo kootu.

Heat 2 tsp of oil in a cooker, add chopped onions after changing color into golden brown, add hing and curry leaves.

Then add the banana flower, tamarind extract, and coconut paste.

Add chilli,coriander,turmeric powder

Boil well until the raw flavor of the tamarind goes.

Then add the soaked tur dal, and boil for a few more minutes on medium flame.

close the lid put 3 whistle

After 3 whistle completed

Turn off the heat ,remove the lid put salt as per taste finally and garnish it with finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or as an accompaniment to rice.