Baledindina Kootu is a curry prepared using Banana plant Stem.
Time Required: 30 Minutes
Ingredients:
1 foot long Baledindu / Banana stem
1 Cup Thogaribele / Tuvar Dal / Red Gram Split, cooked
1 Lemon sized ball of Tamarind soaked in water and pulp extracted
1tsp Jaggery
1tsp Oil
½ tsp Turmeric Powder
½ tsp Mustard Seeds
A pinch of Asafoetida
Salt to taste
For the Masala:
1tbsp Oil
½ Cup Coconut
3 tbsp Uddinabele / Urad Dal
2 Sprigs Curry Leaves
6 – 8 Red Chilies
3 – 4 Peppercorns
2 Green Chilies
1tsp Jeera / Cumin Seeds
Method:
For the Masala:
Heat Oil and add Urad dal and fry until they turn pink. Add Jeera, Red Chilies, Green Chilies, Peppercorns and fry for a minute. Add Curry leaves and Coconut and switch off the stove. Let it cool. Grind it to a paste adding little water.
For the Kootu:
Remove the outer layer of the Banana Stem and chop the central portion into pieces. While chopping remove the fibers.
Heat Oil, add Mustard Seeds, Turmeric Powder and the Banana Stem pieces and sauté for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup water and cook until the pieces are little soft. Add Thogaribele / Tuvar Dal, Tamarind extract, Asafoetida, Salt, and Jaggery. Add the masala paste and 1 cup of water and let it come to a boil.
Remove to a serving dish and serve hot with plain rice.
