📝 About This Recipe
Vazhakkai Varuval is a popular South Indian vegetarian dish featuring raw bananas shallow-fried with aromatic spices. It's a flavorful and slightly crispy side dish that perfectly complements rice-based meals.
🥗 Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 medium Raw Bananas (Vazhakkai)
- 1 teaspoon Ginger-Garlic Paste
- 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon Coriander Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 tablespoon Rice Flour (for crispiness)
- Salt (to taste)
- 3-4 tablespoons Oil (for shallow frying)
- 1 sprig Curry Leaves
👨🍳 Instructions
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1
Peel the raw bananas and cut them into thin slices (about 1/4 inch thick). Immediately immerse them in water to prevent discoloration.
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2
In a bowl, drain the banana slices and add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, garam masala, rice flour, and salt. Mix everything gently to coat the banana slices evenly with the spices.
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3
Heat oil in a pan or tawa over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add a batch of the marinated banana slices in a single layer. Do not overcrowd the pan.
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4
Fry the banana slices on medium heat for about 5-7 minutes on each side, or until they turn golden brown and crispy. Add curry leaves to the oil towards the end for extra flavor.
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5
Remove the fried banana slices from the pan and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil.
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6
Repeat the frying process with the remaining marinated banana slices.
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7
Serve hot as a side dish with rice and sambar or rasam.
💡 Chef's Tips
Slice the bananas thinly and evenly for uniform cooking. Don't overcrowd the pan while frying; fry in batches for crispiness. Adjust the red chili powder according to your spice preference. Adding rice flour helps to achieve a nice crispy texture. Freshly made ginger-garlic paste enhances the flavor.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
Steamed Rice Sambar Rasam Curd Rice Poriyal or Kootu (other vegetable side dishes)