A popular South Indian snack is Vazhaipoo Vadai. This crispy food is called banana blossom vadai or fritters.
INGREDIENTS
– 3 cups Banana Flower / Vazhaipoo cleaned
– 1 cup Split Chana Dal
– 1 large Onion finely chopped
– 1 no Green Chillies finely chopped
– 1 tsp Asafoetida
– Salt to taste
– Oil for deep frying
For Grinding
– 3 no Dry Red Chillie
– 1 tbsp Fennel Seed
– ¼ cup Curry leave
– ¼ cup Coriander Leaves optional Coriander Leaves / Cilantro
– 10 cloves Garlic
– 1 tbsp Ginger (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Whole vazhaipoo or banana flower. Remove petals' outer skin one by one. Flowers are in tiny bunches inside petals.
Step 1
Remove one by one. They should be placed in vinegar water immediately to avoid oxidation. Tall, stiff stigma and translucent petals.
Step 2
Remove and discard the calyx and stigma. You need banana flowery alone. Get rid of stigma and calyx. Soak chana dal 2–3 hours. Fully strain and set aside.
Step 3
Blend cleaned banana blossom. Grind coarsely without water. Put in a basin. Grind wet chana dal coarsely without water. Use the same bowl.
Step 4
Dry chilli, garlic, fennel seeds, curry leaves, and coriander leaves should be ground coarsely. Avoid water when grinding. Mix it with ground chana dal and banana flowers.
Step 5
Add onions, green chilies, asafoetida, and salt. Mix well. Banana flower vadai combination.
Step 6
Remove a little piece and flatten. Drop into heated oil and cook for 1-2 minutes. Drain, serve.