Vazhakkai Podimas – Raw Banana Stir Fry

Vazhaikkai Podimas

Vazhakkai Podimas or Plantain pirattal is a simple south Indian style stir-fry prepared with raw bananas.  This dish is slightly different from the usual vazhakkai curry or varuval,  its more like banana hash, we at home call this dish vazhakkai puttu/podimas which goes well with sambar, rasam and yogurt rice.

Vazhakkai Puttu / Vazhaikai Podimas / Vazhakkai Poriyal / Vazhakkai  Pirattal / Raw Banana Puttu / Raw Banana Stir-fry / Plantain Fry

 

Ingredients
  Raw Banana   2 (small)
  Onion   1 /2 cup (chopped)
  Garlic cloves   5 crushed
  Green Chili   2 slit-open
  Turmeric powder   1/4 teaspoon
  Red Chili powder   1/2 teaspoon
  Asafoetida powder   1/4 teaspoon
  Fresh grated coconut   2 Tablespoons
  Mustard seeds   1/2 teaspoon
  Split black gram   1/2 teaspoon
  Fennel seeds   1/2 teaspoon
  Curry leaves   6 leaves
  Salt   1 and 1/2 teaspoon
  Oil   4 teaspoons
 Coriander leaves   little for garnish

 

Lets see how to make this vazhakkai podimas…

Vazhakkai podimas 1

Chop the top and bottom portion of the raw banana and pressure cook  it with skin on upto 2 whistles or until soft but firm.

Vazhakkai podimas 2

Usually 2 whistles should be good enough for this, if you have problem  with pressure cooking then you may cook it over stove-top by boiling them in a pot filled with water.

vazhakkai podimas 3

This could take about 10 -12 minutes or more to get this firm texture.

vazhakkai podimas 4

Once done, make a small slit on the skin and it will peel right-off.

vazhakkai podimas 5

You may either grate, chop or mash at this stage. I prefer to use a fork to mash it slightly.

vazhakkai podimas 8

Add turmeric, red chili powder and  salt to this hash and mix. Keep this aside.

vazhakkai podimas 6

Now heat oil in a pan, splutter mustard, split black gram and fennel seeds. Throw in a few curry leaves and let them also sizzle along.

vazhakkai podimas 7

Sprinkle asafoetida, add chopped onions, green chili and garlic cloves. Fry them for few minutes or until the onions turn translucent.

vazhakkai podimas 9

Add the cooked raw banana to this mixture and bring the flame to low setting. Cover and cook for about 4-5 minutes.

vazhakkai podimas 10

Once done, sprinkle fresh grated coconut and give a quick stir and switch off. Serve with rice and rasam.

Vazhakkai Podimas
வாழைக்காய் பொடிமாஸ்

 

Vazhaikkai Podimas

Notes

  • Serves 3
  • Cooking raw banana in pressure cooker may be tricky, cooking too long will make them mushy. So try one whistle first and boil for another 5 minutes to get the right texture.
  • Asafoetida and fennel seeds are added for digestion.
  • You may also choose to add sambar powder in the place of red chili powder.

Some Raw Banana recipes to try…

  1. Raw Banana Cutlet
  2. Vazhakkai Bajji
  3. Vazhakkai Fry

Comments

4 responses to “Vazhakkai Podimas – Raw Banana Stir Fry”

  1. AgnesJey Avatar
    AgnesJey

    Hi Mullai,

    I am a big fan of your receipes.Following your receipes for more than 3 years.Your presentation is awesome.I tried this receipe a long time before itself but sharing the feedback now only 🙂 . I also prepared this receipe when my sisters visited my house, they also loved it.
    Also I have tried your
    Chicken sukka,Kothavarankai Paruppu Usili(I hate kothavarankai, but your receipe made me to love it),Vathal kuzhambu,Podale Cutlets,Suzhiyan,LIMA BEANS MASALA RECIPE,Suraikai Kuzhambu,Brinjal Roast,Raw banana cutlet, all kara kuzhamu and many more to mention.

    Thanks for sharing.

  2. Priya Avatar
    Priya

    Its a simply superb thanks Mullai your website is really useful for working mothers like me

  3. Cappuccino Avatar
    Cappuccino

    Tried and Asusual the outcome was superb. How r u mullai ?

  4. Sudha Avatar
    Sudha

    Nice one Mullai. I generally make this podimas by grating it to fine strands and rest is the same.