Banana blossom Stir Fry.

Have you ever tried cooking a banana flower or a banana blossom? Purple in colour, heart – shaped, it is commonly seen in Indian groceries where it is considered as a vegetable.  It’s a very good source of fibre and many medicinal values.

Do you prepare the banana flower?  Is it used in your culture? Please do share.

Banana flower is the purplish-red flowers growing at the end of the long banana stem. The mature flower often has hard husks on the outside. When the husks have been peeled away, the leaves in the middle can be used to cook. It is also used to make salad in some countries as well. If you are about to buy some for cooking, you should make sure to choose the fresh ones which are tight and undamaged. The outer husks should be closely overlapped each other for freshness purposes. Some people having experience of cooking banana flowers usually recommend that you should wear gloves beforehand. This is because the leaking banana flower liquid can leave some stains on your skin or on your clothes. You can also rub some cooking oil on your hand which makes the liquid easier to be washed.

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Serves – 4

Cooking time- 20 minutes

Cooking time 25 minutes

Ingredients:

Banana Flower – 1 nos
Onion (chopped) – 1nos
Green chilli (chopped) 2 nos ( or to taste)
Garlic (chopped) – 5 cloves
Dry red chilli – 2 nos
Coconut (grated) – 1 cup( either fresh or desicated cococnut)
Curry leaves – 2 sprigs
Mustard seeds – 1/4 tsp
Cumin – 1/4 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
Urad dal -1 tsp
Pepper powder 1/2 tsp (optional)
Coconut oil –  3 tbsp
Method

• Oil your hands and knife before cleaning and cutting the banana flower to prevent discoloration.
• Peel the banana flower stalk (each layer will have many tiny flowers). Remove the outer layer, till you find no more tiny flowers. This last white bit inside should be chopped into fine pieces.
• Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and cumin, when it splutters add urad dal and saute for 1 minute.
• Add onion, green chillies, garlic, dry red chillies, curry leaves, salt and turmeric powder and fry till the onions turn transparent.
• Add the chopped banana flower and mix well and fry on medium flame for 3 – 4 minutes covered. Keep stirring ocassionally.
• Add pepper powder and stir well. Add grated coconut and saute well and fry on low flame for 2-3 minutes till all water evaporates and the flower is not soggy. Put off the flame.
• Healthy Banana blossom Stir Fry is ready.

 

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