Vazha koombu thoran/banana flower stir fry

Vazha koombu or banana flower is something that brings me the pleasant remembrance of home. Actually I used to hide when amma made these thorans during childhood. Now I jump to grab these home special items just to put up that atmosphere and enjoy it totally. All these good things don't seem worth until you yearn to have it. That is the my exact relationship with banana flower and I love them. I forgot to rinse in turmeric water so lost the light colour otherwise it was delicious.

 You need

• Banana flower (vazha koombu) - 1 medium
• Red chori beans/Van payar - 1/2 cup
• Grated coconut - 1 cup
• Green chilli - 3
• Garlic cloves - 2 (I used the big ones)
• Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• Coconut oil - 1 tbsp + 1 tsp for tempering
• Salt to taste

Method

• Cook red chori beans in pressure cooker adding salt until done. Avoid overcooking.
• Remove the top 4 or 5 layers of petals from banana flower and chop it from the narrow end into a dish of water with turmeric powder. Rinse and drain.
• Pour 1 tbsp oil into the chopped flower and mix well with hand. 
• Grind coarsely, coconut, turmeric powder, green chilli, garlic and cumin.
• In a thick bottomed vessel combine the chopped banana flower and above coconut mix. 
• Add salt to taste. Add enough water. Cover and cook on slow flame for 10 minutes. 
• Before switching off add the cooked red chori beans and mix. Keep covered on flame for 2 more minutes. 
• Switch off and use after tempering.

For tempering

• Add mustard seed to 1 tsp hot oil. 
• Let it splutter.
• Add chopped shallots, curry leaves (if you've)... 
• Pour over thoran and serve with rice.

Sending this to the kerala kitchen hosted @ Ramya's space