Vazhai Thandu/Banana Stem Kootu

I couldnt stop myself to get some fresh and rare veggies from India, one among those is this banana stem..Eventhough my MIL prepared many curries with this banana stem,my favourite goes always to my version of kootu..Today for our lunch i prepared this quick and nutritious kootu with moongdal and with a grounded masala paste with coconut,cumin,coriander seeds and dry red chillies..Enjoyed having this wonderful,healthy and delicious kootu with rice and papads..Needless to say how healthy these banana stems are, even i had the famous juice with this banana stem during our vacation in India, a must to drink if you go to India..

1/2cup Moongdal

2cups Banana steam (chopped)

1no Onion(chopped)
1no Tomato (chopped)
1tsp Mustard seeds+Urad dal
2nos Dry red chillies
1/4tsp Asafoetida powder
1/4tsp Turmeric powder
Few curry leaves
Salt
Oil

To roast & grind:
1tbsp Coriander seeds
1/2tsp Fennel seeds
1tsp Cumin seeds
5nos Dry red chillies
3tbsp Grated coconut

Roast and grind all the ingredients given under the list 'to roast & grind' as fine powder, meanwhile pressure cook the moongdal,chopped banana stem with turmeric powder and salt with enough water upto 3 hisses...keep aside until the steam gets released.

Heat enough oil, lets splutters the mustard seeds,urad dal,asafoetida powder, fry the red chillies until brown, now add the chopped onions,chopped tomatoes,curry leaves and saute until the onions turns transculent...Add the cooked dal-banana stem mixture,already prepared spice powder to the onions,cook everything for few minutes,put off the stove..

Serve hot with papads along with rice or simply with rotis and dosas..