I try to include vazhaithandu recipes in my cooking at least once in a month as it has lots of health benefits. Whenever I go to Salem, my FIL buys me banana stem and banana flower because finding these vegetables in my place is very rare. Mostly I make Vazhaithandu juice ( Salt version) Or valaithandu thayir pachadi and sometimes poriyal or thogayal. I haven’t tried any gravies/ kulambu or kootu with it. So this time, I wanted to try some kuzhambu with banana stem. I got the recipe from HERE. I made some changes and tried it. It tasted good when mixed with plain rice adding ghee. Banana stem is a bland vegetable. It doesn’t absorb any flavor or taste within it. So in this gravy, the masala gives the taste more than the vegetable. Original recipe called for using black chana along with banana stem. But I had used only vazhaithandu as I wanted to consume more quantity of this vegetable.If you are looking for some different vazhaithandu recipe, try this one. You may like it 
. Lets see how to make banana stem gravy for rice with step by step pictures !
Banana stem gravy / Vazhaithandu Kuzhambu
How to make vazhaithandu kuzhambu/ Banana stem gravy for rice
Cuisine: South Indian
Category: Side dish for rice
Serves: Serves 4
Prep time: 10 Minutes
Cook time: 20 Minutes
Total time: 30 Minutes
1 cup – 250ml
- Banana stem – 1 no
- Salt & water – as needed
- Sambar powder – 1 tsp
To grind
- Methi seeds/ fenugreek seeds – 1/2 tsp
- Urad dal – 2 tsp
- Coriander seeds – 1 tbsp
- Grated coconut – 1/3 cup
- Red chilli – 3 nos
- Water – as needed to grind
- Tamarind – Gooseberry size ( soak in water)
To Temper
- Cooking oil or coconut oil – 1 tbsp
- Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
- Urad dal – 1 tsp
- Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
- Curry leaves – Few
- Hing/asafetida – a pinch
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METHOD
- Soak tamarind in little water. Grind all the ingredients given under “To grind” adding tamarind to a smooth paste. Set aside.
- Wash and chop raw banana stem into small pieces. Keep them immersed in water or buttermilk till use to avoid discoloration. In a pressure cooker base, heat oil and splutter mustard seeds, urad dal, cumin seeds, hing and curry leaves.
- Add the ground paste, 1/4 cup water and saute for a minute. Add 1 tsp sambar powder. Mix well. Squeeze the banana stem and add it to the cooker. Add 1 cup of water, required salt and mix well.
- Pressure cook in low flame for 2 whistles. Open the cooker after the steam is released. Mix well and check for taste. Add more salt if needed and more water if the gravy is too thick. Mix well and serve with plain rice adding ghee. Tastes the best when mixed with rice & ghee. Ghee helps to enhance the flavor of this gravy.Do add it !
- Enjoy !
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Note
- Sambar powder is not mentioned in the original recipe.But I used it.
- Adjust the consistency of the gravy as you like. I made it semi thick.
- This gravy thickens as it cools down. So add more water whenever needed.
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Try this healthy vazhaithandu gravy for a change. You may love it !
