Vazhai poo poriyal (Plantain flower stir fry)

Vazhai poo poriyal

Valai poo/ Banana/ plantain flower is an excellent vegetable used in Indian cooking. It can be used to make vadai, fry, curry ,salad etc. Though it is a hard task to clean the plantain flower(Tamil-vazhai poo), but it is  worth doing it.
The banana flower should be used within 2 days you buy it.

Cleaning the flower:
First remove the red bracts. Take out the inner flowers. Remove the thick stamen in each flower. Remove the plastic-like portion in each flower.
You can chop the innermost bracts too.
wash them and chop them into fine pieces.
Immediately soak them in buttermilk solution.(1/2 cup buttermilk + 2 cups water)
If you want to know more about cleaning the flower, just read this page.
How to clean banana flower (vazhai poo)?
Also:
http://www.ganeshvilla.com/bananas/banana_flower_salad.htm

Ingredients:
Plantain flower- 1 (cleaned and chopped)
onion - 1
green chillies- 2
mustard seeds- 1/4 tsp
urid dhal- 1/4 tsp
curry leaves - 1 brig
shredded coconut - 2 tbsp.
salt - 1/4 tsp
cooking oil- 1 tsp

Method:
Heat a pan.Add oil , urid dhal and mustard seeds.
After the mustard seed pops, add chopped onion, green chillies , curry leaves.
After 30 seconds add the chopped plantain flowers.
Stir fry everything . Add salt and 1/4 cup water.
cover the pan with a lid.
After 10 minutes the plantain flower will get cooked.Switch off the flame.
Add shredded coconut and cumin seeds. Mix well and serve hot as a side dish with sambar rice.

Serving suggestions:
Serves for 3 people.
It can be served as a side dish for Sambar rice.