Video guide to making Kerala's special vazhapindi thoran or banana stem stir fry

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients

250 gms vazha pindi ( banana stem)

50 gms toor dal (pigeon pea lentil)

50 ml water

Salt as required

To coarsely grind

1 cup of grated coconut

3 cloves of garlic  

2 green chilies

2 shallots

¼ tsp turmeric powder

Few sprigs of curry leaves

To temper

2 shallots ( chopped)

1 tsp of urad dal (black lentil)

1 ½ tbsp of coconut oil

Curry leaves

3 dried red chillies

Method

Step: 1

Soak the toor dal in water for an hour.

Step: 2

Remove the outer covers of the banana stem and retain only the thick inner core. Wash thoroughly, cut thin roundels of the vazhapindi (banana stem), and remove the threads by rolling over the index figure. Then finely chop it.

Step: 3

Transfer the chopped banana stem to a bowl. Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Mix well. Cover and keep it for 10 minutes.

Step: 4

After 10 minutes, squeeze the excess water from the chopped banana stem by pressing with both palms and then keep it aside. 

Step: 5

In a pan, cook the soaked toor dal with ¼ cup of water. Cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on medium flame. (make sure not to overcook)

Step: 6

Add the chopped banana stem with the cooked toor dal. Combine well. Also, add the squeezed-out juice. Cover and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes over a low flame.

Step: 7

In the meantime, grind the items mentioned under ‘to grind’ coarsely to make the masala mix.

Step: 8

Add the masala to the cooked banana stem and toor dal mix. Combine well. Cover and cook over a low flame for a minute, then turn off the flame.

Step: 9

Finally, heat 1 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil in a small pan. Fry the urad dal. Add the chopped shallots, and sauté until light brown. Add the dried chillies and curry leaves, sauté for a few seconds, and then pour it over the stir fry.

Super tasty banana stir fry is ready. It goes well will rice and roti.

Recipe courtesy: Sobha Varghese is a homemaker based in Mumbai, India. Sobha runs a popular YouTube blog called ‘Sobha's Kitchenette’ that focuses on authentic and traditional Kerala recipes.

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