VAZHAITHANDU / PLANTAIN STEM THOGAYAL

We usually make poriyal & pachadi with vazhaithandu..This thogayal may be new to some of u.. It tastes yum when mixed with plain rice  adding sesame oil and easy to prepare too.We like this a lot.U all can do this for a change.Try & let me know friends  

Ingredients :

• Raw Banana stem / plantain stem / Vazhaithandu – 1 no (medium size)
• Red chilly – 2-3 nos
• Tamarind – Small gooseberry size
• Urad dal – 1 tsp
• Hing – 2-3 generous pinches
• Salt & water – as required.
• Oil – 1-2 tbsp

Method:

• Remove the fibre (thread like portion ) from the banana stem and chop it finely.
• Soak the chopped pieces into buttermilk or water and set aside.
• Heat a pan with a tbsp of oil and roast the urad dal , redchillies and hing.Keep aside.
• Heat the kadai with a tbsp of oil and add the chopped stem after draining the water / buttermilk ..
• Saute well till its completely cooked.Its quantity will be reduced to half.It may take 10mins. Adding salt at this stage helps in quick cooking.
• Let it cool.Finally grind the cooked stem with roasted ingredients & tamarind , water to a smooth paste.
• Mix with plain rice topped with sesame oil / ghee !!  serve with papad as an accompaniment !!

KITCHEN CLINIC :

BANANA STEM : Many parts of the banana tree can be used for various purposes and are very useful. Banana, has great nutritive value and is a ready source of energy when you are tired and fatigued. Most of us know all about banana but many may not realize how the banana stem is good for health. After the tree has given fruit, the other layers of the stem of the tree is removed and the thick stem is removed and can be consumed in salads; if it is tender or it can be used in the form of vegetable or soup. The banana stem is thick and fibrous and tastes a bit like banana. It is cooked in various forms in South India with dal, as a vegetable with coconut scrapings, as a salad or even soup. This stem is very good for weight loss as it has a lot of fiber. Since it is fiborous it adds bulk to what we eat and hence we may consume less. However it is best to exercise and carry on other weight loss methods along with it to aid weight loss and promote good health. Banana stem is also good taken as a juice or soup which helps eliminate and treat kidney stone. It is an efficient diuretic helping to eliminate toxins from the body. Elimination of toxins is very important as we accumulate toxins from water, air and food. It is also good as a laxative, due to it’s high fiber content. So people who have constipation problem would benefit by taking it at least 2 days a week. Besides it helps to cool the body. So you must have realized how good it is for our health. Having realized how good banana stem is for our health, you should make it a point to include it at least one day in our weekly diet. Enjoy it as soups, vegetable, salad or as a juice. You could also mix it with dal and season it with green chillis ginger with the juice of lemon. I am sure you would love banana stem and enjoy it at least once a week to lead a healthy and happy life. Herbal remedies for urinary infection Juice from banana stem (banana stem juice) is effective in treating a variety of urinary infections and to dissolve kidney, prostrate and gall bladder stones. Banana stem is the core of banana plant. Remove the leaf bracts to reach the banana stem that runs from the base of the plant and ends at the banana bunch. Crush the stem with any solid material to extract the juice. Drink a glass each in the morning and evening. The juice from leaf bracts are of no use in this regard. Taking banana stem juice (vazhappindi neeru in Malayalam) is single best remedy for all types of kidney stones. Bael fruit (Aegle Marmelos – Kuvalam) is also known to have positive effects on reducing urinary tract infection. Take ripe fruits fresh or make a drink. Leaves and bark of the tree are poisonous. Take 2-3 glasses of lemon juice (lime juice) daily. Drink 2 glass of carrot juice daily. Water of a big tender coconut a day can give relief to urinary tract infection. Take 300 mg of Shilajit (Mineral Pitch, Asphaltum) daily. Lifestyle adjustment Persons suffering from urinary infection must not spend too much time in sun and must drink plenty of water. Don’t suppress the urge when you feel like urinating.

AWARDS :

Babli and Jyoti have showered these honorable awards.Thanks a ton dear , I am elated

 

Bye for now friends