Vazha Koombu Thoran - Banana Flower Thoran

Vazha koombu or Banana Flower is a very healthy option that could be included in your daily diet. Banana Flower is not only healthy, but extremely tasty too. The tip for making a tasty dish out of Banana flower is to use the tender portion and to discard the thick outer layers of the flower. The tender portion of the flower is cream in color. Just discard the outer layers one by one to reach the inner area that is extremely tasty after cooking. Banana flower though is difficult to clean, is preferred by everyone because it is extremely tasty and healthy.

After chopping into fine pieces, you will find that it will change its color. So to avoid discoloration, you need to put them in salt water or simply put in a bowl with water. As soon as the other ingredients are ready, you can just squeeze out the water from the banana flower with your hands. You can clean the banana flowers separately if you want. Simply pull apart the stalk of the flower and the light paper like portion at the bottom of the each small flower. There is no harm if you do not remove them. The Vazha koombu that I used for this recipe was picked from my backyard vegetable garden. So it is fresh from the garden.

Ingredients

·         Banana Flower or Vazha Koombu – One whole

·         Coconut gratings – ½ a cup

·         Onion  - 1

·         Shallots – 3

·         Garlic – 2 pods

·         Green Chilies- 2 nos

·         Turmeric Powder- ¼ tsp

·         Cumin seed powder – ¼ tsp

·         Salt

·         Coconut oil

Method

·         Clean the vazha koombu by pulling apart the thick layers apart

·         You may keep the small flowers for the thoran

·         When you reach the cream central portion, you can stop pulling the layers

·         Now cut them into small pieces

·         You may clean the small flowers by taking apart the stalk and the paper like substance from them. This is a hilarious task. So if you are planning to make your thoran fast, do not take the yellow flowers.

·         Cut them and put them in a bowl of water when you make arrangements for preparing the thoran

·         In a mixer jar, add coconut gratings, ginger pod, green chilies, turmeric powder and cumin seed powder

·         Run the mixer for a second or two

·         Heat a pan and add coconut oil to it

·         Add mustard seeds and allow it to crack

·         To the oil, you may add curry leaves

·         Now add the Vazha koombu or banana flower to the pan along with finely chopped onions

·         Add the coconut mix

·         Add sufficient amount of salt. Do not add too much of salt.

·         Mix well and close the lid.

·         DO NOT ADD WATER

·         Allow to cook in slow fire in closed pan for 10-15 min. Stir occasionally.

·         After 10- 15 min, open the lid and serve in a bowl

·         Serve with rice or with chapattis.

·         Enjoy!!