VAZHAITHANDU KOLA(BANANA STEM KOFTA)

One of the favorite vegetable of tamilians is banana stem,which is very rare to get in US.Many of them including Indians don't know about this healthy vegetable ,which has many medicinal value.everyone knows about raw banana and ripe ones, and few about the flower but not the stem.

Some info about the stem I know :it's rich in fiber, potassium and B6.

The rich fiber content helps weigh reduction and constipation,Rich potassium constant helps reducing blood pressure,heart issues and also it's good diuretic,so good to prevent kidney stones.My dad,who is a naturopath used to advice his patients to have the juice of this  for ulcer ,kidney stone ..

Having said a little about the healthy vegetable let's come to a very different dish (usually dishes made with banana stem are usilli,curry,kootu,sambar,pachidi).... It's a appetizer.... Kola (kofta)

INGREDIENTS:
Vazhaithandu(plantain tree stem) or Beetroot-1
Roasted bengal gram-4tbs
Coconut-1/2
Clove-2
Cinnamon-2
Saunf-1tbs
Greenchilli-5 or6
Ginger-1/2"
Garlic-3 or 4
Onion-1
Corriander-chopped
Curryleaves chopped
Salt-to taste
Oil- to fry

METHOD

1)Grind all the ingredients coarsely.
2)Add chopped thandu just before taking the powder out of the mixer and grind just for a second.
2)Add finely chopped onion, curry leaves,corriander leaves, salt to this above mix
3)Make balls and fry them golden brown.
4) Serve with spicy coconut Chutney.

Note:Beetroot can be grated , cooked and used instead of thandu.