Chundum Parippum Thoran - Lentil + Banana Blossom Stir fry

How many of you have waddled through your own or neighbor's backyard , looking for the fallen snugly bracts of the red banana blossoms , in search of the tiny drops of honey left ? I have many times like a little squirrel ........

I know I haven't been around here much last couple of months, hope I will be back to my normal routine soon. Thanks to all of you for coming here every single day !

Was reminiscing about the "Pothichoru"( Meals) my brother T used to get for us , when we were left alone at house ,  from a tiny tea shack ( chayakada) near our  home.

An all-in-one pack of choru , thenga aracha meen curry , chundum parippum , vanpayar olathiyathu, naranga achar and pappadam ; in a pliable vazhayila covered with an old newspaper , glued together with pasted "choru".

I craved for it ; tried to imitate it ; foil for vazhayila sans newspaper and rest the same !

Ate with so much joy ! Satisfied ! Recreated a good old memory !

"Pothichoru , "meals ready - Oonnu thayar " triggering some childhood memory ? Write to me just like you did with this post about Kakka Erachi Ammachi , without me asking you .. I promise this will be our lil secret :-)..I enjoyed each and every e-mail you sent me about fish mongers and it feels so good to know I took you for a walk down the memory lane

Recipe for nadan vazhachundu - thovara parippu thoran

Serves - 4

Total cooking time - 30 minutes

Ingredients:-

Vazha Chundu / Banana Blossoms - 1 medium

Oil - 1 tea spoon

Yellow Lentils - 1/2 cup

Oil - 1 tablespoon

Salt to taste

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tea spoon

Curry leaves

Shallots chopped - 4

Green chili chopped - 4-5

Garlic chopped - 2 cloves (optional)

Ginger chopped - a small piece (optional)
Turmeric - a pinch

Salt to taste

Bowl - 1

Grated coconut - 1 cup

a pinch of cumin 

a pinch of turmeric

Directions :-
Clean, rinse and soak yellow lentils for at least 2 hours , drain and cook with a pinch of salt and just enough water and keep aside.

Clean and remove the outer layers of the banana flower until you get the heart . I smear a lil oil on my hand, knife and the flower and remove the thread kind of thing as I mince it . Put it in a bowl of water and wash well.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan and add mustard seeds , when it splutters add curry leaves , chopped shallots , green chili , ginger and garlic and saute till the raw smell disappears. Add a pinch of turmeric the minced blossoms , salt to taste and saute for a minute.Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water , keep everything to the center of the pan and cook covered for 3-5 minutes in a medium flame.
Crush all in Bowl - 1 lightly in a food processor or mixie and add to the pan along with the cooked lentils. Combine everything well , simmer for 4-5 minutes , stirring often until it is done and dry.

Happy Cooking

Sarah