Vazhathandu Kootu

Ingredients:

1. Plantain Stem (Vazha Thandu) – 1
2. Turmeric Powder – ¼ tsp
3. Moong Dal – 100g
4. Small Onion – 5
5. Garlic – 2 pods
6. Green chilli – 3
7. Salt – To taste

Ingredients for seasoning:

1. Mustard Seeds – ¼ tsp
2. Cumin Seeds – ¼ tsp
3. Curry leaves - 6
4. Red Chilli - 2
5. Asafetida – Pinch

Preparation:

1. Finely chop the Plantain stem and onion.
2. In a pan, add two cups of water and let it to boil. Once the water boils, add the Moong dal, turmeric powder and garlic pods. Let it to cook till the Moong dal is ¾th cooked.
3. Now add onion, plantain stem, green chilli and salt. Cook the plantain stem still it become soft.
4. In a separate pan, add 1 tsp of oil. When it hot, adds mustard seeds and let it to crackle. Now add cumin seeds, red chilli, Asafetida and curry leaves one by one.
5. Add this seasoning on top of the vazhathandu kootu.

Tips: 

1. The plantain will get dark soon after you cut it. To avoid this, in a bowl add two cups of water and add 1 tsp of curd, little bit salt and mix it well. Keep the chopped plantain in it.