Vazha Koombu Thoran / Banana Flower & Coconut Fry

Gosh! It has been so so long that I ate Vazha Koombu thoran / Banana Flower fry. Back at home, mom used to buy this once in a while and cook for us. In fact, sometimes we got it from our  homegrown Vazha (Banana Plant). :D Cool na?

So last week on our weekly grocery shopping, I spotted this at the market and got my hands on it! Made sure that I explained Mr.A, how nutritious it is :) And that I know how to make this too!

Imagine, I have been cooking for over an year and never thought of having this and now, out of the blue, I did? Well, not so. I should thank Krithi for the Healing Foods - Banana event which she is guest hosting with Siri of Cooking with Siri. :) Thank you gals :)

Only after I saw the event was I reminded of cooking this :)  Sometimes I scare Mr. A with some unheard and a lil' flop (burnt!!) dishes.. :D Well, kitchen nightmares are not just Gordan Ramsay's thing! ;P

Ingredients

• Banana Flower/Vazha kooombu - 1
• Water - 1 C
• Grated Coconut - 3/4 C
• Green chillies - 2
• Garlic cloves - 2
• Curry leaves - a few
• Turmeric powder - 1 t
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 t
• Dry red chillies - 1
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 2 T

Method

• Chop the banana flower after removing the first few layers of the flower.
• Heat a pan with water, turmeric powder and salt.
• Add the chopped flower into the pan and cook for 5 to 10 mins.
• In another pan, heat some oil and splutter the mustard seeds.
• Add dry red chillies and curry leaves to them.
• Add the chopped flower and stir well.
• Continue cooking at low heat (make sure that all the water is gone from the other pan - BTW -- you can adjust water according to the quantity of chopped flower).
• Meanwhile blend or grind coconut with green chillies and garlic.
• Stir in the coconut mixture and mix well.
• Cook for 2 more minutes and remove from fire.
• Your dish is ready :D