Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Vazhaikai podi

Introducing a couple of items that we would not normally associate with a banana. One - a hot, spicy podi to go with white rice and the other - a saree. Yes, you read that right. A saree. Weavers from a town called Anakaputhur - barely 5 miles from my place in Chennai - are making wide range of sarees from banana fibre!

Coming to the recipe, plantain podi is one of my favorite recipe, which I am sending to the event 'Banana' hosted by Sameena in her blog 'My Culinary Creations'


Ingredients :

4 tbsp -- Channa dal
2 tbsp -- Urad dal
7-8 nos -- Dry red chillies
1/2 plantain
2 tbsp -- grated coconut (optional)
1 tsp -- asafoetida
1 pinch -- Tamarind
1 tsp -- oil
Salt to taste

Method :
--- In a medium heat, take a pan and add a tea spoon of oil and dry roast all the ingredient except plantain, salt and coconut if using. Roast the mixture till the dal colour changes to golden brown.
--- Transfer the mixture in a plate and keep aside to cool .
--- Meanwhile, peel the half plantain and dice them finely and cook them in the same pan. Just sprinkle some water and close the lid , will be cooked in minutes. Allow it to cool.
--- Once the dal mixture is cooled, grind them to a coarse powder, now add the cooked plantain, salt, and grated coconut if using to the powder and pulse the mixer for 2-3 times, just to mix them thoroughly.
--- Do not run the mixer in high speed, the banana will be get smashed, and you will not be able to enjoy the tiny bits of banana taste.
--- Enjoy this podi with steaming hot rice and a spoon of gingelly oil.


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