Vazhakkai Podi: Know How To Make This Condiment At Home
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Be it a south Indian household or a fine dining restaurant, Vazhakkai Podi is a must-include in the main course. Made with raw bananas, this dish deliciously complements all south Indian curries. Ask any south Indian about his/her favourite comfort food and we bet you’ll find Vazhakkai Podi in their mention. Do you want to relish the flavours of the south at home? Here’s the recipe for this decadent Podi for you to try. 

Preparation time- 5 minutes

Cooking time- 30 minutes

Servings- 4

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 raw bananas
  • 2 tbsp urad dal 
  • 2 tbsp chana dal 
  • 1 tsp mustard seeds 
  • 1 tsp oil 
  • 2-3 dry red chillies 
  • A pinch of asafoetida
  • 2 tsp coconut oil 
  • 5-6 curry leaves 
  • 2 tsp split urad dal
  • Salt, according to taste

METHOD

  1. Roast the whole urad dal, chana dal, red chillies, and mustard seeds with oil till they turn golden brown. Cool these ingredients properly and grind them to form a coarse powder. 
  2. Cut the bananas into 2-inch pieces and boil them till they are 70% cooked. Don’t overcook the bananas as it will result in a mushy, paste-like texture. 
  3. Allow the bananas to cool completely and peel the skin off. Once you are done peeling the skin off, crumble the bananas without mushing them. 
  4. Add the ground spice powder and salt and mix well to combine. 
  5. Heat a pan and add coconut oil. Add the mustard seeds, split urad dal and the curry leaves and let the mustard seeds splutter. Once the dal turns brown, add the banana mixture. 
  6. Saute the banana for 2-3 minutes without mushing them. 
  7. Remove from heat and serve it as a side dish with any south Indian dish.

No south Indian platter is complete without a podi on the side. If you are planning to make a south Indian platter at home, try this Vazhkkai Podi to complement the other dishes and taste the real flavours of the south.