Vazhapoo Paruppu Usli - Banana Flower Paruppu Usli

This is another vegetable we use to make paruppu usli. The process of making this usli is time consuming. But banana flower is very good for utreus. My father in law being a doctor, usually encourages us to eat banana flower once a week. This will also helps to get regular periods. Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:-

1. Banana Flower (vazhapoo) - 1
2. Channa dhall - 1/2 cup
3. Toor dhall - 1/2 cup
4. Urad dhall - 2 tsp
5. Red chillies - 2
6. Green chillies - 1
7. Asafoetida powder - a pinch
8. Salt to taste
9. Oil - 2 tbsp
10. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
    
11. Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
12. Curry leaves - few

As I said earlier, This recipe includes a long process. First, banana flower needs to be peeled layer by layer and in each tendril, there is a black stem (called as Kallan in Tamil), remove it and cut the tendrils into small pieces. Soak it in water with few drops of buttermilk in it. Also soak channa dhall, toor dhall, urad dhall , red chillies and green chillies for one hour. Grind it adding turmeric powder and salt (required for dhall only) into a fine paste. Steam cook it in a idly pan, for 15 mts. Allow it cool and scramble them. Keep it aside.


In the mean time, drain the banana flower, cook it with a pinch of tumeric powder, salt(required only for banana flower) and 1/4 cup of water. Cook until it is half done. Drain it and keep it aside. Now take a pan, pre heat oil, add mustard seeds when it splutters add curry leaves and asafoetida powder and fry it till golden brown. Now add the steam cooked dhall to it. Fry it till the dhall becomes softer and add banana flower to it and saute until moisture leaves. Now banana flower paruppu usli is ready to serve. This is also a side dish.