Vazhaikkai Poriyal (Plantain stir fry)

This vazhaikai poriyal was a staple in our house as we had some (lot) of banana trees in our backyard. I have seen amma running there to pick some unripe plantains whenever there were some surprise guests. We love this poriyal very much. Also recipes like this comes handy when we need some extra side dishes. Hope you too love this just as much as I love this vazhaikkai poriyal. 

Ingredients:

Unripe Plantain - 2
onion (finely chopped) - 1
dry red chilly - 2
curry leaf - 1 sprig
Peanut oil - 2 tbsp

mustard - 1 tsp

urid dal - 1 tsp

hing - 2 pinch
shredded coconut - 3 tbsp
cumin - 1/2 tsp
turmeric - 1/2 tsp

salt - 2 tsp

Method:

Wash the green plantains / bananas. Steam cook them using an Idly cooker or in a normal cooker without adding the pressure valve for 10 minutes. Check it by piercing a fork and it should pass through without difficulty but firm in shape.

Take out and let them cool. Remove the skin.

Let cool. Cut it into small cubes.

In a wok, heat the oil and add mustard seeds followed by the black gram lentil. As soon as the mustard crackles add the hing, dry red chillies, curry leaves , onion and stir till the onion wilts. Immediately add the diced plantain, salt, turmeric and mix well. Check for salt.  

Fry till it becomes loose. If using nentharankaai (plantain variety) add 1/4 cup water and cook closed for 2 mins if needed. If using shorter banana (Tamilnadu variety), no need to cook in water after steaming.

Then mix the freshly shredded coconut and switch off.

Vazhaikkai Poriyal is ready!

Serving suggestions:

Serve as side dish with rice and sambar or vatral kulambu or kara kulambu or rasam.

Unripe banana poriyal (வாழைக்காய் பொரியல்)

Green unripe plantain (வாழைக்காய் ) is included in many ethnic cuisines. South Indians cook this banana in many ways.  One of the easiest ways is making a poriyal. Any poriyal (a stir fry) requires very less oil and can be cooked quickly too.
In Tirunelveli, most of the poriyal recipes would ask for 'steam cooking' or 'par boiling' the vegetable before tempering. My amma used to make this in a single step....she would just temper the vegetables and cook them in the same frying pan. 
But I always make this in Tirunelveli saiva samayal method, which I learned from our Rukmani aunty. I adapt this method, because I temper all of  my dishes (like sambar, rasam) one by one using the same kadai while cooking and finish off with this poriyal.  Try this and enjoy !

Vazhaikkai poriyal (வாழைக்காய் பொரியல்)

Cut the vazhaikai into 1 inch squares (approx)

I use this banana (Thai banana) for cooking purpose (from my file photos)

Ingredients:
Green unripe banana - 2
red chili powder - 3/4 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
cumin - 1 tsp
salt - to taste (1 tsp)
Tempering:
Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
mustard - 1 tsp
urid dal - 1 tsp
hing - a tiny pinch
curry leaf - 1 sprig
red onion - 1 (small)
dry red chili - 1 
shredded coconut - 2 tbsp

Method:
Wash and clean the banana. Scrub and remove the outer skin mildly. We can remove the skin completely but I prefer to keep the skin on.
Cut it into small cubes. Put it in water immediately to prevent it from oxidation (color change).
Pour 4 cups of water in a sauce pan.  Bring it to boil and cook the chopped banana tender crisp (it should not be mushy, but cooked well). Drain water. Add salt, turmeric powder, chili powder, cumin to it and mix well. Keep the cooked banana mix aside.
Heat coconut oil in a wok. Add mustard seeds, urid dal, hing and let mustard crackle. As soon as urid dal turns mild pink, add cut dry chili, curry leaf, chopped onion and fry till onion turns soft (not brown).
Add the cooked banana and stir well. Cook covered in low heat for 1 minute. Sprinkle shredded coconut, mix well and switch off.
Vazhaikkai poriyal is ready!

Serving suggestion:
Serve as side dish with sambar, rasam and rice.

Time taken:
Preparation: less than 10 minutes
cooking : 10 minutes