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Vazhakkai Podimas

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • Raw banana / Vazhakkai - 1 Medium
  • Turmeric - ¼ tsp
  • Asafoetida - 1 Large pinch
  • Salt - ¼ tsp
  • Grated coconut - ¼ Cup

To temper

  • Oil - 2 tsp
  • Mustard - ¼ tsp
  • Broken urad dal - ½ tsp
  • Jeera - ½ tsp
  • Dry red chilli - 2

Instructions
 

  • First peel the skin and cut the vazhakkai into small cubes and keep immersed in water until used. This will prevent the vazhakkai from changing color.
  • Now heat a pan with oil, add the mustard and once it splutters, add the remaining ingredients listed under "To temper" in given order.

    vazhakkai vazhakkai
  • Once the broken urad dal turns golden brown, add the vazhakkai and saute for 2 minutes.

    vazhakkai vazhakkai
  • Add required water until the vazhakkai is half immersed. Turn the flame to low, add turmeric, asafoetida, salt and mix well. Cook covered until the water evaporates. By now the vazhakkai will be fully done. In case the vazhakkai is not fully cooked, you may have to add a little more water and cook for some more time until done.

    vazhakkai vazhakkai

    vazhakkai vazhakkai
  • Finally, add the grated coconut, give a nice stir and turn off the flame.

    vazhakkai vazhakkai
  • Serve and enjoy as a side for rice and gravy.

    vazhakkai podimas

Notes | FAQ

- You can add chana dal and curry leaves while tempering which will give you an extra flavor.
- Do cook covered the vazhakkai in low flame or else it will not be cooked through.
- You can also use green chilli instead of red chilli.
- You can also add finely chopped onion and garlic to this recipe. If adding, do it after tempering and saute until the onion turns golden brown. Then add the vazhakkai and proceed with the remaining steps.