Vazhaipoo Kootu Recipe without coconut

Banana flower are also called vazhaipoo in tamil. Vazhaipoo kootu recipe is a traditional tamil recipe prepared from plantain flowers. As vazhaipoo is very good for health, I used to buy regularly when I find them in market. I love to eat it any form either vazhaipoo vadai for mor kuzhambu or vazhaipoo poriyal or kuzhambu. To clean this vazhaipoo (banana flower) is a time consuming process but still worth it. I prepared this vazhaipoo kootu with moong dal, replace it with any dal of your choice. This banana flower kootu tastes fabulous with hot steamed rice and ghee. Try this vazhaipoo kootu recipe without coconut, if you are diet conscious.

Health Benefits of Vazhaipoo (Banana Flower)

  • Being high in iron content, used to treat anaemia.
  • Controls the excessive pain during menstrual cycle.
  • Good medicine for stomach ulcer and dysentery.
  • Rich in vitamin A, C and dietary fibre.
  • Good for pregnant women.

vazhaipoo kootu recipe

        Preparation Time : 45 mins    Cooking Time : 20 Mins     Serves : 3

 

Ingredients For Vazhaipoo Kootu Recipe 

  • 1 Banana Flower
  • 1/2 Cup of Toor Dal
  • 1/2 Tsp of Turmeric Powder
  • 1 Tsp of Oil
  • 1 Big Red Onion, Chopped
  • 1 Tomato, Chopped
  • 1 Tsp of Sambhar Powder
  • Salt as Needed
  • Water as needed

To Temper

  • 2 Tsp of Oil
  • 1 Tsp of Mustard Seeds
  • 2 Red Chillies
  • Pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)
  • Few Curry Leaves

Method

  • To clean banana flower (vazhaipoo), apply some oil on both hands, take off the purple outer covering, remove the bunch of florets, repeat this step until you reach the centre of the blossom. After that, remove the stamen and small white cover at the base of each florets. This is how you have to clean each florets.
  • Chop the florets finely.
  • In a pressure cooker, add banana florets, toor dal, oil, salt, chopped tomato, chopped onion, sambar powder and water. Cook it for 5-7 whistles. Open the lid, after pressure releases.
  • Heat oil in a pan, when it is hot, add mustard seeds, red chillies, asafoetida and curry leaves, after it splutters, add the cooked dal, mix well. Check the salt.
  • Hot and flavourful vazhaipoo kootu is ready to serve.

Tips

  • It goes well with any spicy kulambhu like manathakali kulmabhu or milagu  kuzhambhu.
  • You can replace toor dal with moong dal or channa dal.
  • Adjust spiciness according to your taste.
  • You can also add green chillies in addition to red chillies.

kootu recipe with banana flower