Greetings Hiveans!!! A long await for a healthy and tasty dish will always taste better. Such is this recipe, as I had to wait for the Banana Blossom, after a long period. Banana blossoms is otherwise known as Banana flower. These plants are available in most households in our country.
Benefits and how to use it
This is a very healthy flower which can be used as a side dish for rice. This flower is usually cooked and given to diabetic patienrs. Being rich in potassium, it is mostly considered as a dietary fiber to be included in food. Sometimes, this flower has a bitter taste, and to remove the bitterness I usualy add some salt water to it, after chopping it. Though not completely, to a certain extent the bitterness is reduced.
And their is another interesting solution to solve the bitterness. Cooked green gram lentils can be added to it. It will tasye just excellent, trust me.
Please note
There is a filament like thing in each blossoms, which should be removed. Though time consuming, health wise it is too good when removed. Because I was told , the ancestors kept saying, it can cause stomach ache.. Then why go for a risk ? Just remove it.**
Fine let's go cooking
INGREDIENTS REQUIRED:
- Banana blossoms - 1 large
- Green lentils - 200 gm
- Onion - 1 medium sized
- Green Chilli - as per your spice
For Coconut mixture
- Coconut - 1/2 of 1 coconut
- White Onion - 2 or 3 flakes
- Jeera - 1/2 tsp
- Turmeric powdwr - 1/4 tsp
- Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
- Curry leaves - a hand full
For spluttering
- Coconut oil - 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
- White lentil(Urad Dal - 1 tsp
- Red pepper - 1 or 2
- Curry leaves
METHOD OF PREPARATION
STEP - 1
After getting a good banana blossom make sure to remove the petals one by one, until it becomes difficult to remove the last one. Which means, now the blossom can be taken on a whole. After removing the first 2 or 3 petals, the flowers from the rest of the petals can be taken. Once again, make sure to remove the filament like thing, from each flower.
In the meantime, you can soak the green lentil in water.
STEP - 2
Now chop the flower and the left over blossom into small pieces. Soak in salted water for 2 minutes. After that drain and keep aside.
To this, you can add one finely chopped onion and green chilli.
Keep a thick bottomed vessel to it add some oil , mustard seed, white lentil, red pepper and curry leaves. Once the mustard splutter and white lentil turns brown add the chopped onion, banana blossom , grèen chilli and curry leaves and saute well.
STEP - 4
Grind the coconut mixture with cumin, cloves, turmeric powder and chilli powder
STEP - 5
As these are leafy vegetables just saute for five to six minutes and then add the coconut mixture, mix them well and close the lid for 2 minutes. Well, its done and ready to be served.
Hope you enjoyed this healthy recipe of mine. Have a great day friends.
