We enjoy traditional Bengali dishes in my daughter’s home (her husband is from a traditional Bengal family). Here is Vazhai Poo/Mocha (Banana Flower/Heart/Blossom) Veggie or mocha ghonto that goes well with rice/chapatti.
I normally prepare usili, poriyal with banana flower. But the fine taste of this dish made me to pick the recipe from my daughter and give a trial. It came out very nice and is different from South Indian style of cooking banana flower.
Banana flower/heart/blossom is known as Vazhai Poo in Tamil and as Mocha in Bengali.
Ingredients
- Banana flower cleaned and chopped – 3 cup
- Black chick pea soaked – 1 cup
- Potato cubes – 1 cup
- Green chilli – 2 no
- Coconut coarsely grated – half cup
- Red chilli powder – 1 teaspoon
- Turmeric powder – quarter teaspoon
- Coriander powder – 1 tablespoon
- Cumin powder – half teaspoon
- Sugar – 1 tablespoon
- Salt – as per taste
- Oil – 2 tablespoon
- To grind – wet
- Tomato – 1 no
- Onion – 1 no
- Garlic cloves – 3 no
- Ginger – small piece
- To grind – dry (as spice powder)
- Cinnamon – 2 inch long piece
- Cloves – 4 no
- Green cardamom – 2 no
- For seasoning
- Bay leaf – 2 no
- Cumin seeds – 1 teaspoon
Method
- Boil the cleaned and chopped banana flower with half teaspoon turmeric powder and salt; drain and keep.
- Boil chick pea with salt, drain and keep; powder the spices given to a coarse powder.
- Grind the items given for grinding to a paste; chop green chilli.
- Heat a pan with oil and do the seasoning; then add grated coconut and fry for few seconds.
- Add ground paste and fry for few minutes.
- Now add potato cubes and green chilli; cook till potato cubes are little soft.
- Now add salt, turmeric powder, chopped chilli, cumin powder and coriander powder; mix well, add one cup of water and cook till potato is cooked well.
- Now add spice powder and mix well; add boiled chick pea, boiled banana flower and sugar.
- Mix all and cook for few more minutes.
- Now Vazhai Poo/Mocha (Banana Flower/Heart/Blossom) Veggie is ready. Serve hot with rice.
Tips
{ 2 comments… add one }
Very new and healthy combo,looks yummmm!
this is somethg totally new ! bookmarked !