VAZHAIPOO VADAI - PLANTAIN FLOWER/BANANA BLOSSOM FRITTERS

     We Indians have an imminent skill of incorporating wonderful items into delicious dishes.  Vazhaipoo Vadai - Plantain Flower/Banana Blossom Fritter is one good example of such as a snack.  Banana Blossoms added along with Dhals converting a simple snack into a delicious and flavour-filled crispy Vazhaipoo Vadai.  Even Director Rajiv Menon depicts Vazhaipoo Vadai in a glorious way in his movie 'Kandukonden Kandukonden'. He says it is a wonderful snack with unique flavour and taste by characterizing 'Vazhaipoo Vadai' along with his other main Characters in the movie. Even there is a dialogue where actor Manivannan says, if such ingredient comes into the hands of an American, he would have done a research out of it, but we convert into delectable delights.
      Vazhaipoo Vadai is an easy snack to go along with evening tea/coffee.  Even it suits to be served along with rice and curry.  This crispy & spicy Vazhaipoo Vadai tastes great as such or accompanied with condiments of your choice.  Cleaned Florets are ground coarsely along with Bengal Gram Dhal, seasoned with some onions, green chillies, ginger, dry red chillies etc., and then deep-fried. This recipe is quite similar to Paruppu Vadai/Masal Vadai except for that we add Florets of Banana Blossoms along with other ingredients which makes this a fantastic recipe. The Florets of Banana Blossom, add a note of flavour and taste to it this wonderful Vazhaipoo Vadai.
     The first time I prepared this Vadai was during my College days with the recipe I jotted down from a Cooking show in Doordarshan - an authentic Chettinad Recipe from Mrs.Revathy Shanmugam.


For HOW TO CLEAN PLANTAIN FLOWER/BANANA BLOSSOMS, Click here...

Cuisine - South Indian
Recipe Type - Snacks
Spice Level  - Low-Medium
Difficulty -Medium
Yields - 15 - 20 Vazhaipoo Vadais
Author - SM

Preparation Time - 20-30 Minutes
Soaking Time - 2 Hours
Cooking Time - 15 - 20 Minutes

HOW TO MAKE VAZHAIPOO VADAI - PLANTAIN FLOWER/BANANA BLOSSOM FRITTERS

VAZHAIPOO VADAI - PLANTAIN FLOWER/BANANA BLOSSOM FRITTERS

 

INGREDIENTS :

Banana Blossom Florets - 1-11/4 Cup
Tuvar Dhal - 1/2 Cup
Bengal Gram Dhal - 1/4 Cup
Onions - 1 No.
Ginger - 1 Small Piece
Green Chillies -2 Nos.
Dry Red Chillies - 2 Nos.
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Asafoetida - A Pinch
Curry Leaves - 1 Sprig
Coriander Leaves - Few
Salt - To Taste
Oil - For Deep Frying

METHOD :

• Clean the Banana Blossoms, finely chop them and soak it in acidic water. 
• Drain and squeeze out the excess water from finely chopped Banana Blossoms before grinding it along with Dhal.
• Wash and Soak the Dhals for 2 Hours.
• Drain the soaked Dhals after two hours and grind it along with finely chopped Banana Blossoms, Dry Chillies, Salt and Asafoetida.
• Grind it into a coarse mixture.
• To the ground mixture, add finely chopped Onions, Green Chillies, Ginger and Fennel Seeds.
• Finally, add chopped Curry Leaves and Coriander Leaves.
• Heat Oil in a pan.
• Take lemon sized Vazhaipoo Vadai mix and flatten them with your hands.
• Drop the shaped Vazhaipoo Vadai mix into the hot oil and deep fry them until they turn into golden brown colour.
• Drain them on paper towels.
• Serve them hot with Coconut Chutney.
• Goes well along with hot-hot Coffee or Tea. 

For more Recipe with VAZHAIPOO/PLANTAIN FLOWER/BANANA BLOSSOMS, Click here...

NOTES :

• Adjust the amount of Spiciness according to your preference.
• Soak the cleaned Banana Blossoms in an acidic water.
• Soak the Dhals for just two hours.
• Soaking for a long time will make the Vazhaipoo Vadais absorb a lot of oil.
• Drain the Dhals and grind them into a coarse mixture.
• There is no need to add water while grinding the Dhals and Banana Florets.
• This will help yield crispy Vazhaipoo Vadais.