I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my readers and friends for encouraging me to keep blogging through these years.For making this little blog to one in a million once in a life time with stories, happening, tidbits from my life and also about some food.
Our house has a small backyard but not much of a front yard. Both hubby and I are avid gardening enthusiasts. We have planted almost whatever space we can use in the yard, but left a little space with the grass for my kids to play. They too help us with our gardening; my son helps by pulling out every plant we have. Whereas daughter will help in watering the plants by making sure that she gets wet herself at end of watering business.
In my hometown Kerala, a typical house would have few plants and trees in their front and backyard. Usually plants like Hibiscus (chembarathi) , holly basil (Thulasi), Ixora (Thetti poov) and Roses . Backyard should have yard beans, curry leaves, Banana plant, Jackfruit, Mango, and Coconut tree. In my grandma’s house, fence is either covered with bougainvillea or pineapple. So when I got my first backyard, I planted, Hibiscus (chembarathi) , holly basil( Thulasi), Ixora (Thetti poov) ,Arabian Jasmine( Kodamulla), Orange marmalade(kanakambaram), bougainvillea and roses. However I removed roses two years ago as my daughter would get injured by rose thorn. I have curry leaves and yard beans plant. Few years ago on a Lowe’s trip, we bought a small banana plant, however it turned out be ornamental one. So my dream of banana plant died soon. Then I told my friend and neighbor Andrea that I am badly looking for banana plant. She told me I have few in my backyard I will give you small plant. She bought two small plants, which we planted in the backyard. Andrea left the Houston after one month. However plant which she gave survived a few winters and now this March it started giving flower and fruit. My hubby called Andrea, and even told her that banana plant started flowering. Andrea, did lot of help for us, especially with my baby girl. She was there with every doctor’s appointment from 34 weeks and during delivery, after delivery she helped us with shopping. She was present during birthday parties until 2nd birthday of my princess.
So when that banana plant starred bearing fruit, I was too ecstatic, however, it give only 4 sets of fruit, and I know mom used to make bananablossom stir-fry, so asked my hubby to get the blossom from plant, and I was eager to update the picture of recipe, however my banana blossom turned out to be very small, it is not enough for stir fry, so decide to try this fritters.
When I was searching for the recipes in Google, I found lot of recipes with chana dal; I don’t like using only one lentil. So I used my own parippu vada recipe and added banana blossom there. Added some extra spices, like cumin and fennel seed, garlic, curry leaves and cilantro/coriander leaves. Adding banana blossom made it slightly bitter in taste. When I asked hubby about the bitter taste, he told me “fried ones are always tasty’. Sometime fried ones makes your coffee/tea time delectable. This one holds that title.
This recipe is important to me is because banana blossom is homegrown and harvested from my back yard. If you are a fan of banana blossom, try this. You will like it here go the recipe.
Vazhai poo Vadai/Koombu vada/ Banana Blossom Lentil Fritters
Preparation time: Soaking time 3hours
Grinding time: 5 minutes
cooking time: 1 hour
Grinding time: 5 minutes
cooking time: 1 hour
Yield: 14 no
Ingredients
- ½ cup Toor dal/pigeon peas
- ¼cup Chana dal/Split chick peas
- 2 tablespoon Split urad dal/ split black gram
- 1 cup Banana blossom ( Vazhai koombu) chopped
- ¾ cup Onion ( chopped finely)
- 1 clove Garlic chopped finely
- 1 no Serrano pepper/Green chili (chopped finely)
- 1 inch Ginger chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafetodia
- 2 Red chilies
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼teaspoon Fennel seeds
- ¾ teaspoon Salt or to taste
- 1 sprig of curry leaves
- 1 tablespoon coriander/cilantro leaves
- Oil: 4 cup( I used canola oil)
Directions:
- Soak Toor dal and chana dal along with red chilies separately for about 3 hours. Wash and drain the dals /lentils in a colander and keep aside for 5 minutes.
- Grind half of the mixture of dal with red chilies into a fine paste where as there ½ of rest into coarse paste and remaining ½ into slightly broken pieces or just two pulses in a food processor or grinder. Then pulse the banana blossom for 3-4 times.
- Add finely chopped onions and ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, curry leaves, coriander leaves, (if using) along with salt, asafetodia into the ground mixture of dal and banana blossom mix until everything incorporated well.
- Heat oil in a thick bottomed pan until it becomes smoking hot or around 360 F.
- Make small dal patties similar to large oatmeal cookie (about 2 ½ inch round) using your palm or plastic film (I found using palm is more comfortable) with rubbing you palm with water. Gradually slide the patties into the hot oil. Fry about 4-5 patties at a time. Flip in between so that all sides get browned evenly. About 8 minutes is required to get one batch done in medium flame.
- Enjoy with chutney or ketchup, it taste best with ketchup.
I am linking this delicious
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Kaveri Venkatesh says
Congratulations Dear on the million + hits..
It's so nice to see a banana plant in your backyard..the vadas look tempting
Nagashree says
LUCKY YOU :-), growing bananas in the backyard. I have only the ornamental variety. Vada looks yummy.
Sanoli Ghosh says
lipsmacking good banana blossom's vada. Wonderfully made it Swathi.
Latha Madhusudhan says
Wow you have a nice garden and I can understand the feeling of reeping the fruits or veg from your own garden is such an amazing feeling.
Btw I hve a question, sometime I get kumbu which is so bitter, I love them so much in any form. When it turn bitter I go mad.
Vada with kumbu is extremely yummy. Lovely post dear.
Gayathri Ramanan says
Congrats swathi....your garden looks awesome...One of my fav vada..vada looks so crispy , tempting clicks
Rita Bose says
Congrats,Swathi! Having a backyard garden is always great! 🙂
Rita Bose says
Healthy and crispy fritters! 🙂
http://www.rita-bose-cooking.com/
Gheza e shiriin says
Congratulations Swathi
Your backyard garden looks great. Cooking from the crop cultivated with your hands ,uska alag hi maza hai .this wadas look adipoli
Hema says
Congrats Swathi, the vazhaipoo fritters look awesome..
Vineetha says
Has off to u for growing ur own vazha there and making it fruitful..I would be over the moon if i plant something and get something out of it ....especially such naadan things..fitter looks adipoli 🙂
Swathi Iyer says
Yes Vineetha, I was in joy mode when my vazha start making first flower and fruit.
Manju @ Manjus Eating Delights says
I'm waiting for most of my garden plants to grow and make yummy dishes out of them and I totally understand your excitement and I bet these banana blossoms tasted better than any u've eaten till now... 🙂
So nice of your friend and what a lovely recipe!
Swathi Iyer says
Yes Manju, it is great fun get some fruit from our garden.
Harini M says
Awww this is super awesome :)My all time favorite 🙂
Reni says
Your garden looks wonderful...the vadas look perfect...healthy & tasty...awesome clicks too !
Swathi Iyer says
Thanks Reeni
Peggy G. says
These fritters look great! I'll have to be on the lookout for some banana blossoms!
Guru Uru says
Congrats my friend that is so exciting 😀
And these fritters look utterly delicious too!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Swathi Iyer says
Thanks
kitchen queen says
Wow crispy tempting and inviting vazhapoo vada. Just let me grab them.
Akila says
Wow.. You have nice garden out there... I really envy you... In chennai now a days we don't see much houses with this much plants in garden... Btw... Fritters looks awesome
Swathi Iyer says
yes most are apartments.
Arthy shama says
Looks hot and tempting! Cleaning plaintain and collecting vazahipoo itself involves a lot of hardwork, have seen my mother doing so!
Amelia says
Hi Swathi, excellent vadai. I do enjoy this snack very much. Thanks for sharing your delicious recipe. It's great to have your fruit trees in your yard.
Have a great week ahead.
Swathi Iyer says
Thanks Amelia,
PT says
i'm a diehard fan of this vadai swathi 🙂
Sona - quick picks/pick quicks says
hi Swathi..nice to see the pciture of the vaaya in ur backyard. lovely fritters too...and same with us back home..small front yard but do have some backyard ! 🙂 and..feel free to drop by my space too when you get the time. Just jotted some handy tips on "sane motherhood" on my "Picks quicks" blog. Hope you will be a follower there. lets keep connected beyond the kitchen as well....
Ramya Krishnamurthy says
lovely and my fav vadai
Gujarati Zaika says
Tempting recipe...
Pavithra R says
Wow, 1 million + views, that is just amazing!! Congratulations and wishing you more, Swathi! Also loved reading about the little garden story of yours. It gives a kick to produce home grown veggies and stuffs and cook them! The garden looks perfect.
Love the crunchy vada! My mom used to make this.
Swathi Iyer says
Thanks Pavithra, we love gardening.
Priya Anandakumar says
Super crispy and lovely vadas...
Rafeeda AR says
congrats swathi on the golden number... u deserve it and wish you many many more... love the vadas and the picture of ur farm...
Nilu A says
I had no idea about this banana blossom.. Thanks for sharing Swathi.. Will definitely try this 🙂
Veena Theagarajan says
my fav snack.. Crispy!
Premas Culinary says
Wow super tempting vada,my to do list for long:)
Wer SAHM says
super munchy and tasty healthy vada.... look n click superb
Shama Nagarajan says
delicious and inviting..
Navaneetham Krishnan says
The flowers are simply delish and can be could with dhal or combined with other ingredients as a stir fry. I just enjoy the flowers but cleaning can be somewhat tedious.
Its just a lovable vada with an awesome outcome.
Priya Kheroun Tessy says
Vada n chai....nothing more required. Delicious looking vadas Swathi...
Shri says
Envy you the kitchen garden space Swathi! 🙂
Vada's look very tempting. I have only found ornamental banana plants at Stranges and other stores here; maybe an online one would help.
Swathi Iyer says
If you comedown here, you can go back with banana plant Shri.
Suja Md says
Swathi, I would be double happy, if you come up with a separate post maintaining banana tree in US, with extreme weather conditions...:)
Swathi Iyer says
Yes it was really hard to get them growing in winter.
Divya Shivaraman says
had a chance of people telling how best this vada is...not sure when i will try...just because am lazy about cleaning
Swathi Iyer says
You are right cleaning is tedious job.
Kitchen Queen says
you have some nice yard and gardening done. the fruits of labor shows here in this dish. awesome.
Rasi says
wow :).. to have something made right from backyard is such a great feel.. everythin i look at vazhapoo fritters i am reminded of the tamil movie kandukondein Kandukondein.. they keep making these :D.. looks really yum swati
Swathi Iyer says
Yes Rasi,Mammooty used to work in field in that movie.
Eric Pepple says
Nice job, they sound delicious! They almost look like little lentil burgers haha. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
sushmita pandit says
super tasty banana blossoms...m drooling already............nice shot and very nice explanation of the recipe.
Janani says
mom makes it very often very healthy and yum dish.