Valaithandu Kootu Recipe | Banana Stem Curry Recipe | Video How to Cut Banana Stem

     Banana stem/vazhai thandu is an amazing fiber rich vegetable. A lot of people don't know the importance of including vazhaithandu in their regular diet. It is fiber rich and it plays a big role in removing the gall bladder stones/kidney stones.These stones are formed because of large amount of calcium storage in gall bladder.Doctors advice patients with kidney stones to have banana stem to remove the stones.

    Because its fiber rich it helps relieve constipation. Banana stem  is  full of fiber and water content ,so it helps in weight loss. Cleaning the stem is a little time consuming process,but helps in improving your health. I have included a video of how to clean banana stem for beginners.

    Fresh valaithandu melts in mouth ,its full of water .when cooked ,taste very delicious than old ones.To select/choose the best one in the market for your cooking,try inserting you thumb in the middle fleshy part ,water will ooze out.Then it is very fresh and is really delicious.
    While cutting the stem if it has more fiber and is difficult(usually cutting will be difficult, what i mean is more fiber content) then make poriyal instead of kootu. We love kootu more than poriyal so I went ahead and prepared even though it was little fibrous .
Check similar side dish recipes like avial,papaya curry,palakai kootu curry

Step by step picture recipe or making vazhathandu kootu curry:

• Remove the peels from the flesh.Wash it.Chop in circles ,there will be fiber. Remove using your fingers.Chop them fine after stacking 4-5 layers. Add chopped valaithandu to buttermilk water. Repeat this process until you finish off. Drain the buttermilk water and Pressure cook it along with already soaked moong dal.

• If you want to cook in stove top, pressure cook the moong dal, then cook valaithandu.finally add pressure cooked dal to it.When the pressure subsides ,its time for tempering.Add oil to tava. Temper with the mustard seeds, when it splutters add urad dal. Urad dal has to change color. Then add curry leaves,red chili. Add this tempering to valaithandu.

• Valaithandu kootu is ready.

                                             Banana Stem Curry Recipe                                   

                        How to make vazhai thandu kootu recipe  

 Cuisine: South Indian   Category:Side Prep time:30minutes  Cook time:30 minutes  Total Time: 1 hour


Ingredients:

• 1 palm size banana stem.
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup moong dal.
• turmeric powder.
• hing
• required salt.

To temper:

• 1 tbsp oil
• few mustard seeds.
• few urad dal.
• 1 red chili.
• few curry leaves.

Method:

• Remove the peels from the flesh.
• Wash  and Chop them in circles, there will be fiber remove it with your fingers.
• Chop them fine after stacking 4-5 layers.
• Add chopped valaithandu to buttermilk water.Repeat this process until you finish the entire stem.
• Pressure cook it along with already soaked moong dal.
• If you want to cook in stove top. Pressure cook the moong dal seperately and then cook valaithandu.Finally add pressure cooked dal to it.
• Do the tempering. Add oil to tava.Temper with the mustard seeds, when it splutters add urad dal. Urad dal has to change color then add curry leaves,red chili.Add this tempering to valaithandu.
• Valaithandu kootu is ready.Serve it with plain rice or kulambu sadam.