Vazhaipoo Vadai recipe / Banana Blossom Vada (Fritters) recipe

                  Vazhaipoo vadai was a challenge recipe for me, as when I was newly married, I had to make some good evening snack for my in-laws. And in my husbands house they don't include the vazhaipoo(banana blossom) or vazhaithandu(banana stem) in their cooking. And so, the challenge grew up in size. But, these vadas came out very well so that I just powdered off the challenge and got appreciations from my in-laws.
                             
                       

                           In my childhood days, my amma(mother) will make these vadas, as we (me n my sissy) will not eat this vazhaipoo poriyal or kootu. But, inspite of her heavy work, she will patiently clean and make these vadas. I remember my grandma getting 2 banana blossoms for just three rupees. But, here in Bangalore even one blossom is more than thirty rupees. 

 

Prep time  2 hours ( For soaking the bengal gram)

Cooking time 15-20 mins

Ingredients

1 cup Vazhaipoo ( cleaned and chopped)
3/4 cup Bengal Gram
7-8 Small Onion chopped
3 Chilly (chopped)
1 inch sized Ginger (chopped)
2 tbsp Curry leaves (chopped)
1 tsp Fennel Seeds/ Sombu/ Saunf
2 tbsp Rice Flour
A pinch Hing
As per taste Salt

For deep frying 
As required Oil


Procedure

1. First soak the bengal gram for two hours. Then drain the water and take some bengal gram and keep aside before grinding. Grind the remaining soaked gram into a coarse paste. 
Clean and chop the banana blossom and keep it in diluted buttermilk to avoid the blossom turning black.

2. In wide basin put the chopped banana blossom, course paste of bengal gram with all the above ingredients and knead the dough for the ingredients to get distributed uniformly.
Then make round shaped vadas out of the dough.

3.In a kadai pour the oil and deep fry the vadas for golden brown colour.

 There will be no need of any chutney for side dish. Once the vada is made you cant resist yourself from eating. Be careful of the counts.

         Note:

• Fennel Seeds is optional. Adding them gives more taste.
• If in case you forgot to soak the dal, then no matter soak them in hot water in a closed container so that soaking time of half an hour is enough.