Vaazhaipoo Vadai/Banana Flower vada

I got vazhaipoo(Banana Flower from H-mart(Chinese market)) when i had been to Denver and decided to make vadai from it.It takes quite some time and patience but i finally got it!

Ingredients:

Banana flower:1
Bengal gram:1 cup
Onion (finely chopped):1
Green chilli:2
Ginger garlic crushed:2 tsp
Curry leaves:10-12
Coriander leaves (finely chopped)

Cumin seeds:1/2 tsp

Fennel seeds:1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder:just a pinch or two
Asafoetida powder/hing:1/4tsp

Salt to taste
Oil (for deep frying):3 cups
Buttermilk (diluted):2 cups

How to make it:

To clean the banana flower:

1. Apply oil to both hand to avoid sticking.Take off the purple outer covering and remove the bunch of florets. Repeat the process until you reach the center.

2. Separate each flower from the bunch and remove the stamen(black bud). Chop the florets and soak them in buttermilk with a pinch of salt to avoid discoloration.

To make the vadai:

1. Soak Bengal gram for at least a couple of hours. (2-3 hours).Take a few pieces of dal and keep separately(not for grinding).
2. Then wash and drain the water completely with a paper towel, grind coarsely and mix chopped onion, green chillies, ginger garlic, curry leaves, coriander leaves, Asafoetida powder, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, chopped flowers (drain all water before adding to Dal,along with the ungrounded dal) with salt.
3. Mix everything to form a thick dough. Heat oil and deep fry them in batches. Drain excess oil and serve.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep....."
--ROBERT FROST