Raw bananas can be cooked in many different ways. It can be steamed, boiled, fried, mashed or curried along with coconut. However way it is cooked, it is very delicious to eat.
Apart from the deliciousness, it is very healthy too. Raw bananas are rich in vitamins, potassium and dietary fibre. It has low sugar content too. It is very good for maintaining the health of heart.
Let us see one way of cooking them – Vazhakkai Varuval. Varuval means shallow fry or stir fry in Tamil. This is the easiest and tastiest recipe.
This goes well with sambhar and rice, rasam and rice, curd rice, lemon rice etc….
INGREDIENTS
Vazhakkai( plantain)- 1 big or 2 normal size
Garlic- 3 cloves
Red chilli powder- 1 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4th tsp
Curry leaves- 15 to 20
Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
Urad dal- 1 tsp
Salt- as needed.
PROCEDURE
Peel the skin of Vazhakkai( Plantain) with peeler.
After peeling, slice them into circles. It should not be too thick or too thin. Soak them in water for sometime. This prevents them from darkening. Meanwhile, keep the masalas for marination ready.
Grind garlic cloves with cumin seeds. Drain the water out and marinate Vazhakkai( Plantain) with red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garlic plus cumin seeds paste, pepper powder and salt for 30 minutes.
Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan. I used sesame oil. we are going to shallow fry now . Keep the slice one by one and keep the flame in low to medium and start cooking.
Once it is cooked one side, it should be turned the other side too. It should be cooked till golden brown and slightly crispy.
Once Vazhakkai( Plantain) is done, keep them in a separate plate or bowl.
Now with the left out oil in the pan, saute mustard seeds, urad dal and curry leaves. Let curry leaves turn crispy. Add it to the Vazhakkai( Plantain) slices on top.
Ready.
TIPS
You can increase or decrease the spice by adjusting the quantity of red chilli powder.
Suvai Manam 