15 May 2012

Ragi Vazhai Thandu Vadai


 What is your favourite meal time???  Breakfast / lunch / dinner or skipping meal times !!!

My favourite is tea time snack - the evening 4 "O" clock tummy grumble ..:)   On the contrary this is the meal time I have difficulty preparing something simple to satisfy my cravings. I know that there are endless varieties of snacks - easy, difficult, fried, grilled, steamed, hot , cold, sweet , savoury .... You know the list is very long but even then I have difficulty zeroing down on one item.


I love fried snacks even though they are not very healthy and out of all the fried snacks I love vadais. Usually vadais are made with raw lentil paste or rice flour which is seasoned with cumin, pepper, ginger , green chillies and curry leaves.

Depending on the shape and ingredients various names are given to the vadais - Medhu vadai, masala vadai,Thavalai vadai, Keerai vadai etc. Most of them are prepared as offerings for deities and are specific to certain festivals and auspicious days.

Then additions into the vadai dough became a trend starting with the most simplest of veggies like carrots, corn etc. Nowadays more modern flavours are coming up... Aubergine, Ladies fingers,Vermicelli, Rava, Chicken, Mutton, Fish etc.


I saw this recipe in one of the cookery shows on TV during my last visit to Coimbatore in 2011 and giving credit to my wonderful memory power I have forgotten the name of the cookery show.... I was drawn to this recipe as it had an unusual combination of ragi flour and banana stem.

Banana stem [Vazhai Thandu] is not so popular vegetable outside Tamil Nadu but now it is becoming a scarce ingredient even in traditional Tamil Nadu kitchens. I think this is mainly because of time constraints - removing the "not so pleasant" straw like interceptions in the flesh of the stem is indeed a time consuming process.


The real trick is to select a tender stem as they have minimal amount of interceptions but these interceptions plays a vital role in cleaning the gut and removing the unwanted cholesterol from the blood stream.


So lets get cooking...



For the recipe:
Ragi flour: 200 gms.
Rice flour: 100 gms.
Vazhai Thandu [Banana stem]: 150 gms.
Tumeric powder: 1/2 tsp.
Pearl onions: 6-8.
Fresh ginger: 1 inch piece.
Curry leaves: 1 sprig.
Green chillies:2.
Fresh coriander leaves: a handful.
Salt: to taste.
Oil: to fry.


1.Chop the banana stem into tiny pieces and remove the threads as much as possible [Please see notes on how to remove the threads].
2.Boil the banana stem pieces with 1/2 tsp salt and tumeric powder until just soft.
3.Once done, remove from heat and let it cool. Drain all the water and reserve the cooked banana stem pieces until needed.
4.Chop the onions, green chillies, ginger, coriander leaves and curry leaves finely.
5.Mix all the ingredients along with the cooked banana stem and required salt.
6.Sprinkle a little water if necessary to make a soft dough.
7.Heat oil in a kadai. Take a small piece of the dough and flatten it lightly with your fingers.
8.Fry small batches [3-4 ] at a time until the vadais become dark brown in colour and crisp on the outside.
9.Drain on paper towels and finish with the rest of the dough.


Serve hot either with tomato ketchup or spicy coconut chutney.

Notes: To remove the threads from banana stem, remove the outer layers of the stem and chop the tender central part. Take some very thin buttermilk in a bowl and soak the chopped banana stem pieces. Using a thin skewer stir the pieces around and you will notice the threads intertwining the skewer. Remove the threads and keep stirring until most of the threads are removed.

You can also try steaming these vadais in a steamer for a much healthier version.

Enjoy....


Scribbled by Reva

37 comments:

Perspectivemedley said...

That is one big fat healthy recipe! looks real healthy too!... I've never seen this different combination of ingredients.

Shobha said...

Nice traditional recipe..

Roshni said...

Revathi, I was looking at this post. My husband was walking by and he looked at the title and said 'Creativitikku ellaye Illayaaa'... Truely Revathi, very interesting recipe.

Priya Suresh said...

Fantastic vadai, never thought of this combo, beautifully done Reva.

KrithisKitchen said...

I miss vazhai thandu here Reva... Nice to know you get it in your place.. Thanks for sharing this super healthy and tasty vadai...

Shama Nagarajan said...

different vadai dear..healthy

Shabitha Karthikeyan said...

Interesting combo. Love the idea and looks so homey and good.

Akila said...

Wow what a unique combination.... Definitely a healthy dish to try out.... Like the cute mom n girl near well....

Prema said...

Healthy and tasty vadai,luks yum...love the dolls very cute:)

chef and her kitchen said...

very healthy n delicious recipe..yumm

Aruna Manikandan said...

sounds healthy and delicious reva :)

Sangeetha Nambi said...

Traditional Healthy recipe.. Nice Reva !

Prathima Rao said...

new & healthy snack :)
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner

Hamaree Rasoi said...

fantastic vadai and healthy too....

Nava K said...

We are not much into tea time snacks and its a once a while treat. I suppose fried goodies should be fine if the right kind of oil is used. Our fav is also vadai and your recipe is so unique and fantastic. Hopefully I can find some time to try out this recipe esp for my other half on a weekend.

Shanthi said...

wow...i never heard about this vadai..healthy and yummy...

Sensible Vegetarian said...

Ragi vadai looks so delicious and with vazhathandu sounds very interesting. I always admire your clicks and obviously this one goes to that list too.

PinayinTexas said...

This looks like something I will definitely enjoy munching on! So flavorful!

radha said...

That is quite a bit of work. But all worth it in the end. Looks marvelous.

FewMinute Wonders said...

Ragi with vazhai thandu is full of goodness. We cannot find them here else I would make it so often. The vadai looks so delicious.

Kajal said...

Wow, Ragi vadai! so good and healthy too!

Daksha said...

Wow! What a healthy vadai Reva ...beautiful captures..

Daksha said...

Wow! What a healthy vadai Reva ...beautiful captures..

simran said...

very nice....healthy and for me a unique vadai....nice.

Faseela said...

lovely n healthy snack....

Mira said...

Healthy snack made tasty m... :) the title of pages are good. nice blog.

http://my-hobby-lounge.blogspot.in

Unknown said...

lovely snack.. what a lovely photographs you have.. all recipes are attracting.. happy to follow you..

http://www.poornireipes.blogspot.com

Miriam said...

Looks yummy! My favorite meal time is certainly dinner :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Spice up the Curry said...

nice recipe

Unknown said...

very healthy and yummy vadas dear....impressed by the use of banana flower...awesome....

Priya dharshini said...

Yummy and Healthy vadai...luv the cute dolls..

Unknown said...

Healthy snack..lovely presentation too..love that cute doll

R.Punitha said...

Hi Reva ,

Thank you for your introduction,

i appreciate you for this and your

blog looks very very trendy. I'm

very happy to be here. Brilliant

work , GooD, Keep it up Reva.

Thanks for visit my blog and your

comment. Keep it up , Bye ,

Take care...

Binys Recipes said...

Wow Revs...gr8 post...i have never eaten vazha thandu....this time wen i go home wud make sure i get to eat it.....nice clicks

Hamsi said...

Innovative healthy recipe. Vazhathandu with raagi should be a great taste. Sure to try.

www.indianrecipecorner.com

Giancarlo said...

dall'Italia un caloroso...ciao

Subhie Arun said...

wow..thats v healthy recipes..thx for sharing..frst time to ur blog..lov ur space..glad to follow u!

http://subhieskitchen.blogspot.co.uk/

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