Vazhakai Puli Kootu(Plantain stew with tamarind)

Every part of Banana tree is used in South Indian kitchens,from the trunk of the plant to fruit. A good friend of mine gave me her mother's recipe using plantain. It is a stew made with tamarind and can be had with rice. I made this kootu couple days ago for dinner. My son who usually doesn't like any kootu ate it 3 times. It was that good!

Ingredients:

2 Plantain,peeled and diced 

1/2C tamarind extract(gooseberry size tamarind)

1/4 C black eyed peas, cooked and drained

1/2 C cooked toor dal

1/4 t turmeric powder

salt to taste

Masala:

1 t channa dal

1/2 t urad dal

3 red chili

1/4 t rice

asafotida

For tempering:

1/2 t mustard seeds

1/4 t urad dal

2 red chili

2 t coconut oil

Method:

1. Place plantain, tamarind extract, turmeric powder, salt, asafotida and enough water in a medium saucepan and cook till plantain is soft.

2. Meanwhile, roast all the ingredients for masala with 1 teaspoon oil. Allow to cool and powder it. Keep it aside.

3. Add cooked dal and black eyed peas to cooked plantain. Stir in powdered masala. Cook          for 2 minutes. Remove from heat. 

4. Heat coconut oil and temper mustard and urad dal and red chili. Add it to the kootu. Serve hot with cooked rice.