Banana Flower Puttu Curry/ Vazhai Poo Puttu Curry

in Poriyal, Side Dish

 

 

Banana flowers have untold benefits and was used regularly in many of our cuisine, till some years ago. However, due to mushrooming  of high rises  and nuclear families , usage of the banana flower is  slowly vanishing  from our culinary scene. Long time ago , we had more independent houses and a  backyard garden , so banana plant was a common fixture in it. Now the scenario is very different in the Indian cities. But its still used regularly in our villages, in day to day cuisine.

Banana flower is  extremely beneficial for women with menstrual problems . If women  who   are suffering  from excessive bleeding ,  take cooked banana flower,it will arrest the bleeding. It increases the iron levels in the body.It is  rich in anti oxidants. It inhibits the growth of   bacterial infections in the stomach.

Its helps to reduce the PMS symptoms and is an anti depressant too.  In lactating mothers , it boosts the production of milk.The wounds in the stomach are healed too if taken regularly.

So all in all its a boon to  the woman kind . Include it your diet and see the results.

 

Ingredients

Ingredients

  1. Banana flowersor blossoms  of one flower
  2. Chana dal 1/4 cup
  3. Tuvar dal 1/4 cup
  4. Moong dal 1/4 cup
  5. Urad dal  1/4 cup
  6. Oil 2 teaspoons
  7. Mustard 1 teaspoon
  8. Dried red chilies 12
  9. Salt 3 teaspoons
  10. Asafoetida (hing)
  11. Turmeric Powder 1/2 teaspoon
  12. Curry leaves few
  13. Butter milk or tamarind water 1/4 cup
  14. Ginger grated 1/2 teaspoon
  15. Green chillies  4 (finely chopped)

Method 

Method

  • Remove the stamens from the banana flowers and the smaller  transparent sheath too . Only the four pistils and the outer covering with stalk is used .
  • Chop them fine.  Add turmeric powder and salt .
  • Soak the dals for an hour and drain them . Coarsely grind them (without adding water ) along with  2 teaspoons of salt  , 10 to 12 red chilies and asafoetida
  • Cook them too , along with the banana flowers in  a steamer . However,  keep both in separate vessels.
  • When the flowers are half done,  add a quarter cup of tamarind water or buttermilk ,to the flowers . Cook till soft .
  • Remove and cool . Crumble the cooked dal to a powdery mass.
  • Heat a kadai , add oil . Add mustard , when it crackles , add green chilies , ginger and curry leaves .
  • Add the cooked flowers and crumbled dal , stir . The Puttu  is ready.
  • Enjoy with hot rice .

I

Note

  • Make sure that the stamens are removed , if not, the flowers will taste bitter .
  • Coconut too can be added to the curry .