Vazhaipoo Poriyal / Banana Flower Curry

Vazhaipoo is one of the healthiest vegetable especially for women. We can make many types of dishes in this Vazhaipoo. Here I have given the basic Vazhaipoo poriyal recipe which is nutritious and tastier when cooked along with channa Dal. Here is the detailed recipe of how to clean the Banana flower and make use of it in the poriyal.

Ingredients:

1. Vazhaipoo/Banana flower - 1 medium size
2. Channa Dal/Moong dal - 2 to 3 tbsp (for soaking)
3. Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
4. Salt as per taste

For Tempering:

1. Oil - 1 tbsp
2. Mustard - 1/8 tsp
3. Chann dal - 2 tsp 
4. Broken urad Dal - 1 tsp 
5. Green/Red Chilli - 2 no
6. Onion chopped - 2 tbsp
7. Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp
8. Curry leaves - 1 sprig
9. Coriander leaves 

Cleaning Method of vazhaipoo:

1. Take the banana flower and remove the outer layer. You can see bunches of small florets on the banana flower. Pluck or just take out the bunch of florets separately. 
2. Take a big floret and remove the stiff stick(pistil) and thin white colored cover portions( some people don’t remove this part. Refer 2nd picture below. 
3. Repeat the same for all the big florets.No need to remove the pistil part for very small ones.You can chop & use as it is.
4. Discard the removed pistil and use only the cleaned florets.

Click the Image and zoom you can view a clear stepwise Image 

Wash the cleaned florets in water or soak in buttermilk for a while to avoid getting the florets black in colour. Chop the cleaned florets as shown in the below pic.

When you keep on collecting the big florets you will find a cone shaped blossom part.  At this stage you cannot collect the florets. It will be tender, so you can chop this and add to the chopped florets. Else you can eat this cone part as such, as it is good for stomach ulcers.

Soak the Channa/Moong Dal for about 30 mins prior doing the Poriyal. 

If using channa  dal, cook the chopped vazhaipoo and channa dal in pressure cooker along with turmeric powder and salt. If using moong dal just add the soaked moong dal while doing tempering process to avoid overcooking of moong dal. Add little water and cook upto one whistle.

1. In a frying pan add oil follwed by mustard, channa dal, urad dal, onion, curry leaves. saute for a minute. 
2. Then add cooked vazhaipoo and channa dal along with the water(if there is water left)
3. Saute for a minute and add grated coconut, chopped coriander leaves and switch off the flame.

Our Tasty Vazhaipoo poriyal is now ready to have along with White Rice.