How to clean and cook Banana flower _ Vazhaipoo Curry & Usili

All parts of the banana plant are of great use to us. we are all familiar with the fruit. We also make a curry starry with the raw banana.Banana flower is a tasty vegetable which is very good for health. In South India we prepare many dishes using this banana flower.
This video shows how to make two different side dishes using the Banana flower.
Ingredients
For curry/Poriyal
Banana Flower 1
Buttermilk 2 Tbsp
Turmeric powder
Salt
oil 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds1 tsp
Urad dal 1 Tsp
curry leaves a few
Dry red chillies 1
Asafoetida a pinch
Grated coconut 1 tbsp
Chopped onions optional
For Usili
Tuvar Dal/pigeon pea lentils 1/2 cup soaked
Banana Flower
salt
Turmeric powder
dry red chillies 2-3
Oil 1 Tbsp
Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Urad dal 1/2 tsp
Dry red chilli 1
Asafoetida/hing a pinch
Curry leaves a few
Grated coconut 2 Tbsp optional

[@kishorekrishnan9085]

Hi Gitaji, thanks for bringing back childhood memories. I have been out of India for 40 years and am trying to re-learn the cuisine of my youth. My wife is from Lucknow, and UP food is as simple as ours, and as rich. But since I am a blue blooded Tamilian, I prefer the aroma, the spice, the subtlety and nuances in South Indian cooking. There is one dish that I still remember from circa 1955. My grandmother had a huge almond tree in her home in Tiruchirappalli. She used those leaves to make something called elai vadam. I vaguely remember that there was some steaming involved. It was delicious. Of course, this is academic, since there is no way I can get almond leaves here. Thanks again for the re-education and your wonderful way of elucidating the process.

[@GitasKitchen]

oh yes.. very tasty too. but you can use any leaf even banana leaf is fine for steaming.. nowadays we also get steel plates in for steaming Elaines vadams!

[@parichaysarkar4148]

While chopping banana flower Instead of buttermilk & water we can use normal water with 1 teaspoon of turmeric dissolved in water.....

[@crookshanks03]

Thank you so much for this video, Aunty. I stay away from home and although I love both banana flower and stem, I've avoided cooking because I had no idea how to clean. This has helped me loads. Thank you!

[@ushasubramaniumpillai7973]

Dear gitaji, Good evening. First thing I would like to say is that, you explain the process of cooking any recipe so well that when ever I want to know about any recipe I just choose your channel .
Thank you so much for explaining the vazhapoo parupusili step by step.
thanks once again
Usha

[@lnradhakrishana2216]

Too good. My mother used to make same way.. I am 75 yrs old man well-versed in cooking. I watch everything of ur traditional items

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you so much sir

[@ramachakkaravarthy5951]

Very nice healthy and tasty traditional recipe thanks for sharing

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks

[@wendycorrea1]

Love how she explains everything. The flower petals looks beautiful.

[@sayalipshinde]

Thank you for sharing this recipe! Thank you for sharing the fact that banana flower is good for treating pcos/ pcod. I will definitely include it in my diet as I have pcod. Thank you Aunty!! :) love you !

[@reetasikka7486]

Very interesting, beautifully explained

[@leelusal]

Am so happy to have found this! You remind me of so many of my aunts and my mom too Gitaji! Your channel is a treasure even for Tamil Iyer women like myself, who have been raised on this type of cooking and can even cook quite well! I have never made vazha poo anything because of not knowing how to clean it...even amma has never made it at home! You are simple, efficient, affectionate, sweet, precise, intelligent and very focussed on making a completely informative and detailed video. I am so proud of you Gitaji (incidentally my mom is also Geetha Rajagopalan and lives in bangalore, I live in dubai!). And your channel is a library for posterity, its a real service! More power to you!

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you so much Leela.You are very kind

[@cathyrodrigues1643]

Thank you for the excellent demonstration.

[@bhavikakapadia2462]

Thank you for showing how to clean and cook banana flower.
I will definitely try it

[@GitasKitchen]

Welcome Bhavika

[@ramavijayendra9316]

Nice information madam I like you

[@nusrathayesha9963]

Good recipe with simple method....

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks

[@nithya5663]

Very tasty & useful recepes, thanks for sharing

[@GitasKitchen]

Most welcome 😊

[@roselenerajan7735]

Thanks for this good receipe.

[@myviews736]

Thank you for giving such a detailed description. Extremely helpful 👍

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks

[@geetanjalimarathe1691]

Mam, Thank you so much, always I watch your recipes and loved it, but this recipe was the best one I liked the way you explained. I personally knew the benefits was not aware how to cook, the way you prepared so easily I am eager to make....Thank you Mam for healthy recipe,, , , Keep Posting tasty and healthy recipes....

[@srikrishnasurabhi4621]

excellent mam and too thanx 4r shared👌🙇‍♀️🍫

[@GitasKitchen]

My pleasure..thank you

[@cassia706]

Thank you Gita! I have so many lovely memories of Banana Poo poriyal. Making it today... as I harvested the Poo from my Banana Plant!

[@GitasKitchen]

Wow ! Lucky you !

[@limarosalind2802]

@@GitasKitchen Why did the stir fry come out a little bitter? What did I do wrong?

[@stellat9623]

Auntie, very informative video for me.
Thank you!

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Stella

[@lokitarao417]

Vry nicely explained. Thank u Gita mam. Am making this 1st time

[@hemlatamishra9866]

Thanks mam, very unique recipe .i am very fond of South Indian dishes n i love ur channel very much

[@seethalakshmi7583]

Super recepy madam

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Seetha

[@vb566]

Thanq ma'am for reminding me of my liked dish! I used to prepare this in the first method u showed but sometimes, it would turn bitter :( so, I stopped preparing it. What makes it bitter sometimes. Can u plz help me out. If I know the reason behind the bitterness, I could correct myself n relish the yummy dish. *Sometimes it would turn out well n sometimes bitter*

[@ankitashanbhag3431]

Boiling it once, drain the water and then use it for making vegetables, that way it wont turn bitter. I followed the exact recipe shown here and it turned bitter for me too! :(

[@purecooking]

Very useful video mam

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks dear

[@rosamathew9222]

First time seeing paripu usli. Thanks mam for the new recipe sure will do.

[@ganesanr3553]

Great... fine job .. best food with medicinal value...

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you

[@sujatanalluri7511]

Nice recipes gitaji..👌

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Sujatha

[@saraswathivenkatkrishnan5104]

Such a detailed recipe mami. I would definitely try it. Tha nks🙏🙏

[@GitasKitchen]

Most welcome 😊

[@gmlalithamma2911]

Ma'am you are a khazana of mouth watering south Indian dishes. So good to watch. 😋

[@GitasKitchen]

Wow, thank you

[@marianeindumathi9498]

I had noted this recipe and tried the first one today. It came out so well. Everyone at home enjoyed it. Thanks a lot for this recipe. Will try the other recipe next time.

[@GitasKitchen]

Most welcome 😊

[@rajipoovadan3976]

I bought a banana flower from shop but after making thogayal it was so bitter omg.. can you reply why it's bitter and it was dark in colour

[@vas5457]

You are amazing!! Thank you for this video. Helped a novice cook like me a lot.. 😍😍

[@GitasKitchen]

My pleasure 😊

[@annapurnauppuluri2949]

Its awesome mam.thanku for sharing

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Annapurna

[@ushavijayakumar3096]

Hai Gita chechi. Vazhapoo thoran is very tasty. thank you so much.

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks a lot usha

[@ramyamenon1701]

Hi Gitaji, do we need to remove the stamen and the cover for all the flowers? Including the ones that appear tender?

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes you do

[@uphett2379]

Thank you for doing this recipe. I love banana flower.Its sooo tasty. I used to cook it with my mother. From Malaysia.

[@GitasKitchen]

So nice of you

[@maysunday5077]

Namaskaram Gita ji. Wonderful recipes, and presentation as always. Showing the cleaning procedure was very helpful. But mostly o was feeling gratitude to all the many ladies who had prepared the very special vazhaipoo usli for me during my summer visits. How kind they were to take so much trouble to give me a special treat! Thank you so much for educating us and sharing these wholesome values with us all.

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes, that is the value of our tradition and culture!

[@barbarawitkowska4576]

Dear Gita , Such a interesting lesson of botanie, I have never seen flower of banana,

[@GitasKitchen]

oh! Thats nice!

[@umamanisattanathan1209]

I don'twant to drain the cooked banana flower. Can I cook the pieces by adding the ground dhal and steam. After cooling I can do oggarane.

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes you can steam for more time

[@dharmavaramjayanthi2444]

Thank you for the recipes,mouth watering 😋

[@GitasKitchen]

My pleasure 😊

[@mshankari5807]

I knew only the first method, now I learned usily method also, thank you mam

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks shankari. Thats good

[@sumedhakochhar8720]

Thank you so much Gita ji
Is it safe to give post delivery to the mother

[@vimlapokhriyal3306]

Your dishes are always so nice and convenient , loved them very much.

[@kavitamaneshshekar1065]

Thank you ma'am may ganpati bapa bless you with long & healthy life💕☺

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you Kavita

[@shwetasandhya]

Thank you Geeta mam🙏
Can we use any other dal instead of tuvardal?

[@GitasKitchen]

some people use chana dal too

[@shwetasandhya]

Thank you.

[@binithasajith7739]

Thanks a lot very informative. Why does it taste bitter sometimes. How to avoid this

[@GitasKitchen]

Soak in buttermilk

[@chandrashivaram7429]

Vazhaipoo curryn usli amazing

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks!

[@jayalakshmigopinath5845]

Mam , we can use full portion of the flower except outer part of 2-3 layers.(Kerala style)

[@GitasKitchen]

The inside stem will not cook

[@anniejones6289]

That's what even I heard. People use the purple Part also. Confused now

[@christyannceraso]

I am trying for the first time to make a raw salad. It is very bitter! Does the buttermilk or the cooking reduce the bitterness?

[@GitasKitchen]

It is generally not eaten Raw . Please steam cook it/ boil and try , the bitterness will reduce

[@MTGoddard]

Best explanation ever!!!! Thanks a lot Gita....Namaste. Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷

[@GitasKitchen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@salmanzaheer5060]

Awesome recipe

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you

[@renubalasharma1741]

Madam...
Very very nice n excellent receipe.
U too look so lovely n pleasing.
Jus hav become ur fan .I do watch n follow all ur recepies .
A bundle of thanks to you Madam.
Be Blessed Always.

[@mariadsouza2526]

Looks healthy... which oil do you suggest ma'am for these dishes?

[@GitasKitchen]

You can use any vegetable oil like sunflower ,or Til oil

[@ushavijayakumar3096]

variety receipe. thank you so much.

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Usha

[@tarajo9856]

Very pretty sari!!! 😍

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks !

[@sukanyavinaykumar6154]

Thank u, I want to try this!

[@GitasKitchen]

Go ahead!

[@veena634]

You are so active we are learning many
things from you mam and also you are
So happy in your work.neat cooking like a art ideal for Young generation

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks

[@sunitha9501]

Very nice.my favourite is banana flower curry..thanks amma.your videos are a delight to watch and very informative

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you Sunitha

[@taniyabanerjee5356]

Very yummy aunty.....we r bengoli and called it mocha...the banana flower.... we also cooked it 4/5 style...but ur last one was truely awesome👌👌👌👌

[@GitasKitchen]

That is a very traditional recipe Taniya

[@shriyasanthirakaanthan3519]

Thanks for this wonderful dish...great...will do...

[@GitasKitchen]

Hope you enjoy

[@mayasanthosh1950]

Thank you so much Ma'am ! 💕

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Maya

[@drswatikolhe1296]

Thank you mam, you look like my mother by face , ur recipes reminds me of her cooking and her also....thank you

[@GitasKitchen]

Most welcome 😊

[@mahalakshmiganesh6231]

Thankyou Gitaji for sharing heàlth benefits of vaayapoo..
you prepare even the complicated dishes very effortlessly that we are actually inspired to try it out..once again thanks Gitaji..
Can you please share vadai recipe as pongal is nearing.though my vadai tastes good iam unable to make it properly..i mean with the shape..

[@GitasKitchen]

Please watch my video on Medu Vada under traditional recipes in my playlist on my channel. i have explained the method clearly

[@bharatiwagle6648]

I love this unlimited. My grandma made this.Unfortunately my mom never learned so I never got the recipe. You are my savior for all childhood recipes. God bless you.🙏🏻

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you so much Bharati

[@tryphejosh]

I made the usli today mam. The cut banana flowers are put in water once after cleaning and cutting second time when cooked in water. Can't I cook it directly after tempering and then add the cooked usli?? Also the usli got mashed up after I added the cooked banana flowers. I think draining the cooked water of the flowers will reduce the nutrients in them.

[@GitasKitchen]

You can do like that too

[@lajwantishahani1225]

Thank you, Gita ji. I just cut off the banana flower this afternoon and knowing there must be a recipe for it I checked your channel. Will make the curry tomorrow morning!

[@GitasKitchen]

Most welcome 😊

[@malathishenoy4486]

Gitaji it our favorite, but cooking method is different we r using onion and garlic, i have bought one flower yesterday i will try your usali receipy this time

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes i agree there are many varieties of making it Malathi

[@homecook6125]

Can we keep water used to boil banana flower for later use ..or can we steam banana flower with lentils

[@GitasKitchen]

Steam it separately

[@savithamahadevan9535]

Super madam...Vazhapoo usili I like very much. Mostly heard about beans and capsicum usilies, but it is awesome.

[@GitasKitchen]

Savitha,this is a very traditional recipe. try it out

[@swetaagni8776]

Hello Gitaji!! I make same way but it turns bitter i don't know what is the reason....i tried so many times thinking there might be problem with the flower....can u plz help

[@GitasKitchen]

Maybe what you are referring to as bitterness is the astringent taste of the flower ?

[@swetaagni8776]

@@GitasKitchen yes....

[@christhurajp2586]

The serving method is awesome Gita auntie

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you Chrish

[@harshalasubramanyamayya1178]

Thanks a lot for very neat and clearly explained recipe 🙏

[@GitasKitchen]

My pleasure 😊

[@jagrathigowtham5752]

Lovely explanation and ideas given
And small small tips which are more helpful

[@GitasKitchen]

Glad you liked it

[@honeybatrakumar5902]

Gita ji my sabzi had a mild bitter taste. Did I do something wrong?

[@GitasKitchen]

No. The vegetable itself has a mild bitter taste. But its good for health. You can add some cooked dal and make a dry sabji to mask the bitterness

[@amitaiyer7167]

Could you make video what type of home made food we bring or take in traveling.

[@GitasKitchen]

I"ll plan that Amita

[@Soul_and_Shadow]

Hello M'am. I made it with onions, green chilli and turmeric wth sme Masada after it got cooked. But it has some bitter after taste. Don't know why.. my mom used to make it that way. Is it because the cleaning of small stem was not done properly?pl advise

[@GitasKitchen]

Sometimes the flower itself has a slight bitter taste

[@sakshis100]

thank u mam every time wen i try this recipe my sabzi become kadwa i mean bitter i dnt knw y ... i love this recipe's taste.. pls tell me sm1 told me to boil wid tamarind but dr. Told me not to eat tamarind ... any suggestion mam ...

[@GitasKitchen]

Soak in buttermilk as shown and try

[@sakshis100]

@@GitasKitchen thank u mam ...😊

[@AartiRathod]

Very nice recepie Mami. Thank you

[@GitasKitchen]

Welcome Aarti

[@nitsha5016]

Never heard or saw bananas flower we can eat thanks if available here will give a try

[@GitasKitchen]

Hope you enjoy

[@manjulab4436]

Thanks for the recipe madam,, can you pls me whether 3-4 month pregnant women can eat this.since I don't know it is heat or cold for body..pls reply.

[@GitasKitchen]

I think there is no problem . pls consult your doctor too

[@manjulab4436]

@@GitasKitchen thank you madam..

[@nithyaprakashkumar770]

Hi aunty.. Nithya here.. Healthy dishes.. I m gonna try this.. 🙋

[@GitasKitchen]

go ahead Nithya

[@ritabanga1]

Thanks a lot for this Delicious Recipe . Very Well explained

[@anitthamakhija2060]

Thanks mam

[@skn2228]

I made it once before with similar process but it tested too much bitter.... can you tell the reason?

[@GitasKitchen]

That is the astringent taste of banana flower

[@aparnach1197]

Can clean before day a head how to.preserve .for the mng

[@GitasKitchen]

Keep it in a bowl of water and add a tsp of buttermilk to it

[@premaprasad6108]

Madam I noticed you removing the outer layer of flower along with hard stick. Actually small hard petal in front is removed right

[@GitasKitchen]

yes there is also a small petal like piece which is difficult to cook

[@premaprasad6108]

@@GitasKitchen yes got it but I thought you are also removing outer layer the bigger cover

[@seemapaul1055]

The raw banana flowers are bitter to taste. How to remove the bitterness

[@neenadesai1784]

Vanakkam. Thanks. I don't know how to cook banana flowers. The banana tree is a kalp vriksh . Isn't it?

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes, correct

[@selvisegar1857]

Hello...madam..
I like u and ur all receipe...i will try this usili...tysm...tc

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks selvi

[@manishaghadage3930]

I tried for 3 times as you said but still it is bitter in taste? What should I do?

[@GitasKitchen]

that is the astringent taste of the banana flower !

[@padmabadhri9922]

How long to steam for the usli?

[@GitasKitchen]

About 10 mins,till done/when a knife comes out clean

[@manishabharote5540]

Namaste Geeta ji today I hv this Banana flower bought .I will make this both types vegetables.but I hv 1qurrie please reply soon.oncei made this vegetable it became bitter nd whole vegetable I hv to throw.so pls tell why tis happened better vegetable. Nd next I hv to ask can we keep cutted vegetable over night in fridge nd use halftime nd next for next day.pls.Geetaji reply soon .I m waiting nd can I share ur video to my friend.

[@GitasKitchen]

Yes you can keep the veg in water in the fridge. What you feel is bitterness is the slightly astringent natural taste of the vegetable. That is why we add some dal or coconut to it. You can definitely share my videos.

[@jasmindermaolankar6774]

The tip of applying oil to fingertips really helped. But have to say that this is such a laborious activity that I don't know if I will ever attempt it again!

[@kidshindi2807]

Mam can you show some more recipies on banana flower.In the first recipie how the spicyness comes ,should we add chillies?

[@namrata936]

I made it and its so bitter in taste। How to remove bitterness।?..

[@jbjayasree]

How long to steam the dal mam. Thanks for the recipe

[@GitasKitchen]

About 15 mins

[@jbjayasree]

@@GitasKitchen Thank you so much . I appreciate.

[@teenaidoo8569]

Thank u Dear Mother. I have never eaten this but I am going to cook it.. U are a sweet Inspiration to me.. Love your videos. Love from South Africa Mum. God bless you 🙏❤️💐 Thank u.

[@GitasKitchen]

Thank you so much

[@parikon73]

Can we use this flowers raw in salads if yes how can it's bitterness is removed without cooking

[@GitasKitchen]

It has to be cooked.

[@parikon73]

@@GitasKitchen thank u

[@nivedithakamath4079]

Very nice Maam. Thank you

[@GitasKitchen]

Thanks Niveditha