Plantain Stem Sambar Recipe / Vazhai Thandu Sambar recipe

Hi friends,
                   Many of us do not like plantain stem because of its astringent taste. It will become a tasty food, when you add it in the sambar. Plantain stem is very good for our health. We may consume it once in a week.Lets see the health benefits of Plantain Stem.
Health benefits of Plantain Stem:

• The Plantain Stem is full of  edible fiber which helps to remove wastage from our body smoothly.
• It is the best food for the people who suffer from obesity, urinary stones, ulcers, burning sensation, diabetes, acidity and bleeding disorders.
• It helps the kidney to function properly and thereby reduces the high cholesterol level.

Why do we loose such a precious food in our diet. Add it in your diet and get all the benefits. 

Lets see how to make Plantain Stem Sambar.

 
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 45 min
Serves : 4 persons.

Ingredients:

• Red gram / thuvaram paruppu 150g
• Plantain stem 1
• Tomatoes 3
• Green chillies 4
• Turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
• A ladle of oil
• Mustard seed 1 tsp
• Split black gram 1 tsp
• Fenugreek 1/ tsp
• Onions 4 (or) small onion (sambar onion ) 150g
• Red chilli powder 2tsp
• Coriander powder 2tsp
• A handful of curry leaves and coriander leaves
• Asafoetida 1/2 tsp
• A lemon sized tamarind extract
• Salt to taste

Preparation:

• Chop the onions, tomatoes and set aside.
• Peel off the outer layer of plantain stem and cut it in to thin round  pieces.

Method:

• Wash the red gram and add the plantain stem pieces, chopped tomatoes, green chillies and turmeric powder.
• Add two glasses of water and pressure cook them. Wait for the steam and put the whistle and cook them in a low flame for twenty minutes.
• Heat oil in a pan , add mustard seed, split black gram and fenugreek one by one.
• Wait till it splutters. Add the chopped onions.
• Fry them until it turns transparent.
• Add them in the boild dal and the plantain stem.
• Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, asafoetida , salt , tamarind extract and the curry leaves. Stir them well without any lumps . Bring it to boil and reduce the flame. 
• Adjust the spice, water and the salt at this stage.
• Cook the Plantain Sambar for fifteen minutes in a low flame.
• Remove from the heat.
• Garnish it with the coriander leaves.
• Now the tasty and healthy Plantain Sambar is ready.

Serve with:

• Serve with hot steamed rice and teaspoon of ghee. It goes well with idli, dosa, kichadi, upma.
• Put some pieces of roti / chapathi in a bowl of hot sambar. Leave it for fifteen minutes and taste it. You'll like the taste of it.

Note:

• Instead of tamarind extract, we may add some pieces of raw mango.
•  Ready made sambar powder may also be used to make sambar.. But my suggestion is to always use home made masalas which will not harm our stomach.

Keep smiling! Have a nice day!!