Monday, April 27, 2009

Unripe banana koottu

Usually we make fries or chips with raw / unripe green banana. But generally we reserve the fries for the cold winter . Also it is a custom to bring out a lesser oily version for each and every vegetable for the hot summer lunch in India.
My love for the koottu is endless and here is a koottu again with valai kai (Un ripe banana) which tastes fine with sambar and rasam rice.
I used the raw banana along with the skin and I hope that the skin adds a lovely flavor and fiber to our diet. That's how the banana has to be cooked , if following a traditional way. Guess , globally our ancestors were pretty sure to include all the possible fiber content to our diet by insisting so.

Unripe banana cubed with skin:


Unripe Banana (vaazhai kai) koottu:


Ingredients:
Unripe Indian banana (valai kai) - 2
Channa Dhal - a handful
Asafoetida powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Sambar Powder - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Shredded coconut 1 tbsp
cumin seeds - 1/4 tsp

Tempering:

Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
chopped onion - 2 tbsp
Urid Dhal- 1 tsp
Dry red chillies- 2
Curry leaf - 1 brig
oil - 1 tbsp

Method:
Soak the channa dhal for 15 minutes.

Scrub and Wash the bananas. Remove the stem and tip on both ends.
Retain the skin.
Chop banana in to small cubes along with its skin on.
Immediately put it in the cooking pot along with water. Keep the pieces immersed to prevent oxidation (blackening).

Add soaked channa dhal, Turmeric, sambar powder, and asafoetida.
Cook till the channa dhal and banana gets cooked. Then add salt.

For tempering heat a 1 tbsp of oil , add mustard seeds.
After it crackles add urid dhal ,chopped onion, dry chillies and curry leaves.
Add the tempering to the cooked vegetable .
Mix shredded coconut and cumin . Stir well in heat to get a thick consistency.
Valai kai koottu is ready!

Serving suggestions:

The above said quantity would be enough for 3 - 4 people depending on the size of the banana.
Serve as side dish with any Indian bread or sambar & rice or rasam & rice.

Event:
Sending this 'Unripe banana koottu' to EC's 'Side dish Event' a fabulous way to bring out the best side dishes from many bloggers. Hope this 'koottu' suits the event.

31 comments:

Subhie Arun said...

looks yummy ..vicky...

Finla said...

I love this dish, back at hom mom used to make them when eve rthere we raw banana in the garden.

Gita Jaishankar said...

Yummy vazhaikai kootu dear, thanks for reminding about this wonderful dish :)

Ann said...

Viki, Koottu looks so yummy and I love this with Sambar rice.

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

Viki, this make a perfect entry for the event... Koottu is so tempting...

EC said...

We have never made kootu with vazhakaai..this is new to me,thanks for the yummy entry

Pooja said...

The dish looks delicious and is new to me. Perfect entry for the event :)

Priyameena said...

I never know adding along with the skin will add nice taste..Next time I am going to try without peeling the skin..Absolutely its a wonderful side dish vicky!!

Nandinis food said...

Never made kottu in vahzkkai! Looks yummy! Perfect entry for the event. Yeah, raw banana with skin has fiber and good for our health :P

Manju said...

love vazhakkai and this dish especially!!

FH said...

Shucks! I was planning to buy Plantains last Sat and forgot. Now I remember what I forgot. Koottu looks yummy, love Plantain dishes! :)

Lavanya said...

new tome..looks yummy vicky!!

Priya Sriram said...

Actually I was looking for vazhakkai poriyal and you have posted koottu, better yet!! :D Thanks for the recipe Viki!

Anu said...

Vazhaikai channa kootu looks very inviting :)

Ashwini said...

Kootu looks yummy. Love plantains.

Vrinda said...

v also make similar banana koottu but without channa daal..Perfect side dish with rice

Priya Suresh said...

Kootu looks yum Viki!

Malar Gandhi said...

Vazhaikai is my favourite vegetable...yeah most of us only make fried version! Its unhealthy,right. Its good to discover new possible ways to make them healthy...I love the kootu idea of yours,perfect for summer!:)

saffronapron.blogspot.com said...

This is a very simple dish and is often made in homes across kerala.

Vibaas said...

new recipe, viki. i only make podimas and something similar to potato curry (Dry curry). sounds yum!

Suparna said...

Hey vikki,
I knew there would be more than just the recipe :) thanks for the tip on banana kootu.Looks absoultely comforting :)
TC

Kayal said...

I have never heard of this kootu with vazhakkai. I know only to deep fry it in oil. Good...a healthy version. Thanks for sharing

gtyuk said...

I've never tasted kootu version using vazhakkai; already tasted vazhakkkai fries like many of us :)

looks different and the addition of dhal makes it all the more rich in fiber, nice recipe to bookmark :)

Purva Desai said...

this is new for me....but sounds interesting dish...

lissie said...

Vicky, kootu with vazhakkai is new to me, but it sounds delicious! I am going to try this one :)

Deepa Hari said...

Delicious kootu Viki....i love it.

Chutneytales said...

This banana kootu is new to me..I always make stir-fries only with plantains..This one is very yum!!Thanks :)

Cham said...

Banana kootu is totally new, so why not to try this yummy dish!

Ammu said...

U r really good in kootu. Very creative.

sriharivatsan said...

Not a big fan of vazhakkai..Prepare that only during amavasa days...Kootu ellam samiya panra..Reminds me of my mom's kootu..

Sangeetha said...

Love vazakkai in dish..love this too. we add a little grated coconut & coconut oil to it, that will make it Kerala dish. :)

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