Plantain / Raw Banana Stir Fry / Vazhakkai Varuval

Plantains are a staple food in the tropical regions of the world, the tenth most important staple that feeds the world. Plantains are treated in much the same way as potatoes and with a similar neutral flavour and texture when the unripe fruit is cooked by steaming, boiling or frying.

In Plantain stir fry recipe, we boil sliced plantains in salted water and wipe them dry. Then they are coated with spices and stir fried with seasoning. Stir fried plantain is served with steamed rice and Sambar / Rasam.

Preparation Time : 10 min
Cooking time : 25 min
Yield : 4 Servings

 Ingredients

• 2 Raw Banana - peeled to remove green skin and sliced thinly
• a pinch of turmeric powder
• Salt as required
• 1 Cup water
• 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
• a pinch of Turmeric Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
• 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Pepper/ Pepper powder
• 3 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil for stir frying
• Salt as required

Seasoning 

• 1/2 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
• 1/2 Teaspoon Urad Dal
• 4 or 5 Curry Leaves

 Directions

 1. Peel the skin of raw Banana and slice them thinly. Keep adding the sliced banana in a bowl of water. This will prevent them from darkening
2. Cook the sliced banana with a pinch of turmeric powder and salt with enough water until banana is half cooked. Drain water and wipe of excess water from sliced banana using a paper towel
3. In a plate, mix coriander powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, ground pepper and salt with 1 tablespoon water
4. Add half cooked plantain to this spice mixture and coat all the slices evenly with the spice misture
5. In a large skillet or pan add 3 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot add seasoning one by one. When the mustard seeds pop, add spice coated banana into oil all at once. Spread them evenly so that
each slice is touching the pan/oil
5. Reduce the flame to sim/ Low. Stir fry for 15 to 20 min flipping sides of each plantain slice. Stir fry until they are crispy
6. Serve as a side with Steamed rice and Sambar / Rasam