Vazhakkai Kuzhambu (Raw Plantain Kuzhambu)

The best part about this recipe is that it doesn't use coconut at all.. Recipe for tasty and healthy Vazhakkai kuzhambu follows..

Recipe For : 2

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Raw Plantain            - 1 (Vazhakkai)
Small Onion             - 5 to 8
Tamarind                  - small lemon size ball
Curry Leaves            - few
Salt                            - As required
Turmeric Powder      - 1/4 tsp
Chili Powder             - 1/2 tsp
Coriander Powder     - 1/2 tsp (Malli Thool)
Fennel Seeds             - 1/4 tsp (Perunjeeragam/ Sombu)
Fenugreek Seeds       - 1/4 tsp (Vendhayam)

To Saute in oil and Grind:

Big Onion     - 1
Tomato         - 1

Procedure:

• Chop finely Big onion and tomato. Saute in oil both Big onion , Tomato and grind to a smooth paste adding little water.
• Peel small onion. Extract juice from tamarind. Chop Raw plantain into thick slices. 
• Heat oil in a cooker. Add fennel seeds and fenugreek seeds to it.
• When they splutter, add small onions and curry leaves to it.
• After they turn translucent, add ground masala. Add also enough salt, Turmeric powder, Chili powder and Coriander powder.    
• After the raw flavor of masala goes off, add tamarind extract and also enough water.
• Mix everything well together. Add chopped plantain and cook it for a whistle.
• Serve it  with hot steaming rice and Poriyal of your choice.

Spicy Plantain Roast (Vazhakkai Roast)

This Spicy Plantain roast recipe adds perfect flavors to Raw plantain thus making it much more tastier. As we are steaming raw plantain before marinating, it needs only very little oil for getting roasted. Over to the tastier and healthier plantain roast recipe..

Recipe For : 2

Preparation Time : 15 minutes + Marination Time

Ingredients:

Raw Plantain            - 2 (Vazhakkai)
Salt                           - As required
Turmeric Powder     - 1/4 tsp
Curry Leaves            - few
Oil                             - As required

For Masala :

Chopped Coconut    - a handful
Dry Red Chili          - 4
Fennel Seeds            - 1/2 tsp (Sombu / Perunjeeragam)
Whole Black Pepper - 6 to 8
Chopped Ginger        - 2 tsp
Chopped Garlic         - 2 tsp

Procedure:

• Steam Plantain (Vazhakkai) for about 10 minutes. See to that it don't get smashy. You should be able to cut it with a knife. Cut it into thick slices after steaming. Grind everything under ' For Masala'. Marinate steamed plantain slices with enough salt, turmeric powder and ground masala for about 30 minutes. More the marination time, tastier the roast is.
• Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a nonstick pan. When its hot add marinated plantain  and curry leaves to it.Cover with a lid and cook it. When its cooked on one side, carefully flip it to other side. Add some more oil if needed.
• Switch off the flame after it is cooked on both sides and it turned crispier. Enjoy your plantain roast hot. It tastes good with Sambar rice and curd rice.

Vazhakkai Varuval (Raw Plantain Shallow Fry)

Finding Vazhakkai  a very boring vegetable??? Its the same situation in our home. I have to prepare some other vegetable, when ever i prepare Vazhakkai Puttu or Vazhakkai Poriyal for my husband.  But if it is this vazhakkai varuval he will be  in cloud-nine and he will enjoy his lunch much..

I have steamed vazhakkai and then sauteed together with spices in very less oil. The exciting recipe follows..

Recipe For : 2

Preparation Time : 30 minutes

Ingredients:

Vazhakkai                    - 2 (Raw Plantain)
Ginger- Garlic Paste    - 2 tsp
Salt                               - As required
Turmeric Powder         - a pinch
Chili Powder                - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder             - 1/2 tsp (Seeraga Thool)
Coriander Powder        - 1/2 tsp (Malli Thool)
Garam Masala Powder - 1/2 tsp
Oil                                 - 2 tbsp

Procedure:

• Steam Vazhakkai for about 10 minutes. See to that it don't get smashy. You should be able to cut it with knife. . After steaming, cut it into thick round  slices.
• Heat oil in a pan. When its hot, add cut vazhakkai.  Add Ginger-Garlic paste. 
• After the raw  flavor of Giner- Garlic paste goes off add salt, chili powder, Turmeric powder, cumin powder and coriander powder . 
• Mix everything well. Close with a lid and cook in low flame till it gets crispier
• Switch off the flame and add Garam Masala Powder. Enjoy your Vazhakkai Varuval!!