VAZHAKKAI PODI CURRY

 VAZHAKKAI PODI CURRY

I make it a point to make dishes using raw/green bananas from time to time in my house. They can be used in a variety of dishes and have numerous health benefits.

Today's recipe is for a simple yet tasty side dish called "Vazhakkai Podi Curry"  which translates to Raw Banana Fry in Tamil. Raw/ Green Bananas are called Vazhakkai in Tamil, Baalekayi in Kannada, and "Kachcha Kela" in Hindi. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes using green/raw bananas such as :-

• Chettinad Vazhakkai Curry 
• Raw /Green Banana Roast
• Raw Banana Curry 

Today's recipe of raw bananas has an interesting element to it. The flavour is derived from the aromatic spice powder used for making this dish by freshly roasting and grinding various spices. This spice powder  is called "Podi" in Tamil. I have adapted today's recipe from this YouTube video from Padhu's Kitchen. 

We enjoyed this dish with hot steamed rice and dal. 

Ingredients:-

• Raw Bananas, 2
• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Curry leaves, a few
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Salt, to taste
• Oil, 2-3  tbsp

To roast and grind for Podi:

• Coriander Seeds, 2 tbsp
• Chana Dal, 2 tsp
• Whole Black Peppers, 1/2 tsp
• Dried Red Chillies, 3  (broken into halves)
• Oil, 1/2 tsp

Method:-

Wash the raw bananas and snip off the two ends. Peel them and cut into pieces and keep them immersed in water to avoid discolouration

In a thick bottomed kadhai, heat 1/2 tsp oil, and on medium heat roast the coriander seeds, chana dal, whole black peppers, and red chillies till the dal changes colour

Switch off the gas and allow it to cool

Transfer this to a small mixer jar and grind to a powder- this forms the spices Podi.

Heat oil in the thick bottomed kadhai, and on medium heat add the mustard seeds, when they splutter, add the curry leaves and saute for a few seconds

To this, add the raw banana pieces, turmeric powder and cook covered on medium heat, 

Add salt to taste,  sprinkle a little water and once again cook covered stirring from time to time till the raw bananas are almost 

Now mix in the freshly prepared spices powder pods, mix well so that the bananas get evenly coated with the spices

Cover and cook till the raw bananas get fully done yet remain firm t

Switch off the gas and transfer to a serving bowl

Serve the Vazhakkai Podi Curry with rice or chapati

VAZHAKKAI PORIYAL

 VAZHAKKAI PORIYAL

Today's dish is from the State of Tamilnadu. Here Green/Raw Bananas are called "Vazhakkai" in Tamil. They are called "Kachcha Kela" in Hindi and "Balekayi" in Kannada. "Poriyal" is a stir fry of vegetables.

I frequently make dishes using raw/green bananas as they have numerous health benefits .

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes using green/raw bananas such as:-

•  Swadisht Vegetable Rolls, 
• Chettinad Vazhakkai Curry,
• Kele Koddel from our Konkani cuisine.

I have adapted today's dish from "Vazhakkai Poriyal" in the popular cookery website Subbu's Kitchen. 

We enjoyed this as a side dish with hot steamed rice, rasam, and pappadam. 

Ingredients:-

• Raw/Green Bananas, 3 or about 500 gms
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Salt, to taste

To Be Ground To A Powder:-

• Coconut Gratings, 3 tbsp
• Peppercorns, 1/2 tsp
• Byadgi Red Chilli, 1
• Cumin Seeds, 1/2 tsp

For Seasoning:-

• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Dry Red Chilli, 1
• Black Gram Dal (Split Urad Dal), 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves, 1 or 2 sprigs
• Asafoetida,(Hing),  1/4 tsp
• Oil, 2-3 tsp

Method:-

Wash and peel the raw bananas, cut off the two ends and chop the raw banana into cubes

Immerse the raw banana cubes in a vessel with adequate water to prevent discolouration, adding a little salt and turmeric powder 

Cook the raw bananas till they get done, taking care they are not overcooked. Remember that raw bananas get cooked very fast

Drain the excess water and keep aside

In a small mixer jar, dry grind the coconut gratings, Byadgi Red Chilli, peppercorns and cumin seeds together to a fine powder. Keep aside 

Heat oil in a thick-bottomed kadhai and on medium heat add the mustard seeds

When they splutter add the urad dal and sauté till the dal changes colour

Next add the asafoetida, dry red chilli and curry leaves, mix well and sauté

To this, add the cooked raw bananas and mix well

Now add the freshly ground coconut- spice powder and mix so that the raw bananas get mixed well with the spice powder

Check for salt and add if required

Switch off the gas and transfer to a serving bowl

Serve the Vazhakkai Poriyal with hot steamed rice and rasam 

KELE UPKARI (RAW BANANA STIR FRY)

 KELE UPKARI (RAW BANANA STIR FRY) 

In my house, I make it a point to make dishes using raw/green bananas from time to time. They can be used in a variety of dishes and also have numerous health benefits.

Today's recipe is for a simple yet tasty side dish called "Kele Upkari" in my mother tongue, Konkani.  Green Bananas are called Vazhakkai in Tamil, Baalekayi in Kannada, and "Kachcha Kela" in Hindi. 

"Upkari" is nothing but a stir fry in Konkani. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes using green/raw bananas such as :-

• Swadisht Vegetable Rolls, 
• Vazhakkai Varuval
• Kele Koddel 

For Kele Upkari, more commonly we do a seasoning of mustard seeds, red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves.

Sometimes, for a change, I prefer to use garlic cloves for seasoning as it gives, I feel, a better flavour to the dish. This is a matter of individual taste. 

Ingredients:-

• Raw/Green Bananas, 3 or about 500 gms
• Red Chillies, 3-4, broken into pieces
• Garlic Cloves, 8-10
• Coconut Oil, 2 tbsp
• Salt, to taste
• Coconut Gratings, 2 tbsp, for garnish

Method:-

Wash the raw bananas, snip off both the ends, peel and cut them into cubes

Immerse these cubes in water to avoid discoloration

Lightly crush the unpeeled garlic cloves 

Heat oil in a thick bottomed pan and on medium heat add the lightly crushed garlic cloves

Saute till they turn golden and give off a good aroma

Next, add the broken red chillies and sauté for a few seconds

To this, add the cubed bananas (after draining away the water) and salt to taste

Saute till the raw bananas get well blended with the seasoning

Cover and cook on medium/low flame, without adding any water, stirring from time to time till the raw bananas get done

Remember that raw bananas get cooked very fast

If you want the Kele Upkari to be more crisp you can roast for longer time adding more oil

Switch off the gas and transfer to serving bowl 

Finally garnish the Kele Upkari with coconut gratings

Serve hot as a side dish with the main meal of rice and rasam 

KELE PHODI (RAW BANANA SHALLOW FRY)

 KELE PHODI (RAW BANANA SHALLOW FRY) 

In my house, I make it a point to use raw/green/unripe bananas regularly in my cooking. Raw/Green Bananas are called Vazhakkai in Tamil, Balekayi in Kannada, Aratikaya in Telugu and Kaccha Kele in Hindi. 

I like this vegetable because the dishes are easy to make as it gets cooked fast. Raw/Green Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin B-6. They are supposed to be particularly good for diabetics as per this article in NDTV. 

Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for dishes using Raw Bananas such as:-

• Kele Koddel
• Raw Banana Stir Fry Kerala Style
• Swadisht Vegetable Rolls
• Raw Banana Roast 

Today's recipe is for a very easy to make , simple yet tasty shallow fried raw bananas which we call Kele  Phodi, in Konkani, my mother tongue. 

These are served as an accompaniment to the main meal. 

Ingredients:-

• Raw Banana, 1
• Chilli Powder, 1 tsp or to taste
• Turmeric (Haldi) Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Asafoetida ( Hing), 1/4 tsp
• Salt, to taste
• Rice Flour, 2 tbsp for dusting 
• Semolina (Rawa), 2 tbsp, for dusting
• Oil, as required to shallow fry

Method:-

Wash and peel the raw/green banana , snip off both the ends and cut it into half

Next cut each of the halves vertically into slices which are not too thick or too thin

Keep these slices in a bowl of water for a few minutes so that they don't get discolored

Make a mixture of chilli powder, turmeric powder, asafoetida and salt 

Drain the water from the banana slices

Apply the prepared mixture evenly on each of the slices and keep aside for marination for about 10 minutes

Make a mixture of Rice Flour and Semolina in a plate and dust each of the raw banana slices on both sides 

Heat a little oil in a thick-bottomed tawa 

On medium heat shallow fry the banana slices evenly by drizzling oil on and around the slices till they become golden brown in colour on both sides

Switch off the gas and transfer to serving plate 

Serve the Raw Banana Shallow Fry as an accompaniment to the main meal 

RAW BANANA STIR FRY KERALA STYLE

RAW BANANA STIR FRY KERALA STYLE

Raw/Green Bananas are known to be rich in fibre and potassium. They are often used in dishes made in the South Indian states of Kerala, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. In Malayalam and Tamil, raw/green bananas are called Vazhakka. In Kannada, they are known as Balekayi.

Being good for health, I make dishes using raw/green bananas from time to time. Elsewhere in this blog, you will find recipes for Vazhakkai Poriyal, Raw/Green Banana Roast, and our own Kele Koddel from Konkani cuisine.

This dish has been adapted from Vazhakka Mezhukkupuratti in the well known website Padhu's Kitchen.

Ingredients:-

• Raw/Green Bananas, 2
• Baby Onions, 10
• Turmeric Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Pepper Powder, 1/4 tsp
• Garlic Cloves, 2
• Byadgi Red Chillies, 2 
• Coconut Oil, 2 tsp
• Mustard Seeds, 1 tsp
• Curry Leaves, a few

Method:

Wash, peel and cube the raw bananas. Soak them in water to avoid discolouration
Heat water in a pan, add the cubed raw bananas along with turmeric powder and salt
Cook the raw bananas till they get done taking care that they do not get overcooked as bananas get cooked quite fast
Drain the excess water and keep aside the cooked raw bananas

Peel the baby onions and garlic cloves
In a small mixer jar, coarsely grind the baby onions, garlic cloves and red chillies without adding any water. Keep aside

Heat coconut oil in a pan and on medium heat add the mustard seeds
When they splutter add the curry leaves and saute for a few seconds
Next add the onion-chilli-garlic paste prepared earlier
Mix well and saute till the raw smell goes

To this add the cooked bananas, pepper powder and salt as required
Cook on medium heat for a few minutes till the bananas get well blended with the spices
Switch off the gas and transfer the RawBanana Stir Fry to a serving bowl