Koombu/ Vazhachundu/ Banana Blossom Cutlet

Recipe No: 221

This is a very simple basic recipe for a Cutlet using Banana Blossom. I have special interest in this as I can make my kids eat it without much fuss.

Ingredients                                          Makes 12 - 15

• Banana Blossom cubed………….2 ½ Cups (big pieces; 1 medium sized Banana Blossom)
• Oil............................................2 Tablespoons
• Onion chopped………………….….1 ¼ Cups
• Ginger ..............………………….…2 medium sized pieces
• Garlic………………………………..…8 big cloves
• Indian Green Chilly……….……..4 big
• Garam Masala Powder….……..1/2 Teaspoon
• Pepper Powder………………….….1/2 Teaspoon
• Coriander Leaves chopped…….2 Tablespoons
• Potato cooked...……………………1 big (1 ¼ cups mashed)
• Egg………………………….………….1 big (Beat with 1 tablespoon Water)
• Bread Crumbs………………………1/2 Cup
• Salt as needed
• Oil for deep frying

Method of Preparation

1. Chop the Banana Blossom thoroughly in a food processor and keep it aside till ready to be used.
2. Chop finely Onion, Ginger, Garlic and Green Chilly together in the food processor.
3. Heat a tablespoon of Oil in a pan on medium high heat and saute the Onion mixture together with Salt, till it starts to brown.
4. Add the chopped Banana Blossom; stir thoroughly; close the pan; reduce the heat and let it cook for 5-8 minutes.
5. Once cooked, add Garam Masala Powder, Pepper Powder and Coriander Leaves; mix thoroughly and switch off the heat.
6. Mix in the cooked and mashed Potato to the Blossom mixture. Check the Salt level and add if needed.
7. Divide the mixture into 12-15 portions and make patties/ Cutlets.
8. Dip each Cutlet in the beaten Egg and roll in the Bread crumbs. Keep it aside till ready to be fried.
9. Heat at least an inch of Oil in a pan on medium high heat and deep fry the Cutlets till golden brown on both sides. Serve hot.

Notes:

• If you are buying Banana Blossom, please do remove some of the loose outer bracts/ leaves.
• If you don’t have a chopper/ food processor, chop the Banana Blossom finely by hand.
• Please remove the stem like part at the middle of the Banana Blossom while chopping.
• After chopping the Banana Blossom, you may find some string like things which are basically the sticky sap oozing out. Use a rod coated with Oil to stir the chopped Blossom with a circular motion so that the strings of sap will wind around the rod. Get rid of this before using the chopped Banana Blossom. If you are using a chopper this will be considerably reduced.
• The sticky sap oozing out of the blossom may stain your hands. So please do rub your hands with Oil to avoid the stain before working with it.
• The Cutlets should be immersed in Oil while frying. If you use less Oil the temperature of the Oil will drop once you put the Cutlets which results in over absorption of Oil by the Cutlets.
• If in any case Oil is only coming up to the sides of the Cutlets, then temperature will increase in the portion of the Cutlet lying in the Oil. This will cause cracks in between these two portions, lying above and below the  Oil. So a way to avoid this is to turn the Cutlet over after 30 seconds of putting it in hot Oil, so that the temperature will be even on both sides.

Make it, enjoy the deliciousness and
serve it to your family with love…