Vazhaipoo vadai, banana flower vadai is made with the mixture of dal. Most popular in South India. Learn how to make this perfectly with quick video, stepwise photos.
I rarely make vazhaipoo vadai, most of the times I make vazhaipoo poriyal. Usually, for making vazhaipoo vadai, the mixture is ground bit smoother than we do for the masala vada, but I do grind more coarse as I like that way. You can adjust this as per your preference. But its yummy both ways and that's really what counts right?
If I make vadai, I only make with ¾ th or ½ of the banana blossom. So out of laziness to use the vazhai poo in two halves, I most of the time make poriyal. I also make the healthier version of same dal and the banana blossom - vazhaipoo usili.
It is always good to include all tastes in our diet. Vazhaipoo have one such distinct taste, which is thuvarpu (in english, astringent can match). Also in Singapore, we get banana flower throughout the year, thanks to Malaysia. I rarely buy the Indian export as there are chances of blackened flower inside.
The one from Malaysia mostly doesn't turn that dark and keeps good for longer. So I stick to it for safer side.
Recipe card
Vazhaipoo vadai, banana flower vadai
Ingredients
- 1 & ½ cups Vazhaipoo cleaned chopped
- ¾ cup Chana dal
- 2 tablespoon Urad dal
- 2 teaspoon Raw rice Optional
- 4 Green or red chilli
- 1 & ½ teaspoon Fennel seeds or cumin seeds
- 1 Onion chopped
- ⅛ teaspoon Asafoetida
- 3 tablespoon Coriander leaves Optional
- 1 Sprig Curry leaves
- Oil - For deep frying
Instructions
- Firstly, clean vazhaipoo and chop as finely.
- Wash & soak chana dal, urad dal,rice (if adding) together for 2- 3 hours.
- In blender, grind chilli, jeera/fennel first and then add the dal, drained from water.
- Grind coarsely. you can do it in two batches.
- Then add the chopped vazhaipoo and grind to your desired consistency.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the chopped onion, salt, asafoetida, coriander, curry leaves. Mix well.
- Heat oil in kadai. Grease your hands with water and make medium sized patties/ vadai in your palm.
- Drop the vadai in oil and cook in medium flame. You can fry 4-5 at a time.
- Fry both sides until golden and crisp or until the inside gets cooked well.
- Drain to paper towel and enjoy hot. Its very flavourful even when its cooled down.
Video
Notes
- Make sure you don't add any water while grinding. The water in dal and vazhaipoo itself will be enough.
- If you grind smooth, cook in medium flame to ensure cooking inside the vadai.
Vazhaipoo vadai step by step photos
- Firstly, clean vazhaipoo and chop it finely.
- Soak dals, rice together for 2-3 hours.
- In blender, grind chilli, jeera/fennel first and then add the dal, completely drained from water and grind coarsely. (you can do it in two batches)
- Then add the chopped vazhaipoo and grind to your desired consistency.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the chopped onion, salt, asafoetida, coriander, curry leaves. Mix well.
- Heat oil in kadai. Grease your hands with water and make medium sized patties/ vadai in your palm.
- Drop the vadai in oil and cook in medium flame. You can fry 4-5 at a time. Fry both sides until golden and crisp or until the inside gets cooked well.
- Drain to paper towel and enjoy hot. Its very flavorful even when its cooled down.
Notes
- Make sure u don't add any water while grinding. the water in dal and vazhaipoo itself will be enough.
- If you grind smooth, cook in medium flame to ensure cooking inside the vadai.
Now go forth and enjoy the tasty vadais with chutney of your choice. I like it even as such without any sides.
Rekha shoban says
perfect n healthy vadai....second pic looks superb!!! as usual lovely presentation!
Kalpana Sareesh says
Perfect wat a coincidence am making this tomm all cleaned n set.. looks too yumm n this makes me drool!!!
Chitra says
I never made this on my own. I Dont buy vazhaipoo here as it is bitter. i Buy from salem.I must do this for sen. Loved the second click a lot..:)
Kaveri says
Crispy and crunchy vadais...Though I have heard a lot abt these vadais I have never tried it myself...Nice clicks
kavis says
Oh the vadas looks so scrumptious..Bookmarked and will try soon
Sharmilee! :) says
This is my fav looks super yum.....ipove enaku sapidanum pola iruku...I luv it both ways either coarse or smooth, vadai kedacha pothum 🙂
Hari Chandana says
Woww... such a delicious and tempting snack.. Yummy 🙂
Indian Cuisine
Yuvana's Favourites says
Wow! the vadai is presented beautifully. my favorite vadai. all the vadais are looking similar in shape. Nice.
ஸ்வர்ணரேக்கா says
wow... vazhaipoo vadai is very special than any other vada.. i just love them when my mom prepares.. the photos are amazing as always.. i love to visit ur space for ur stepwise, clear pictures..
Radhika says
Nice pictorial Raji. I love them very much but now-a-days don't buy it due to lack of time in cleaning them. The second click is very nice. Which photo editor do you use? Damn good editing.
Chandrani Banerjee says
Crispy crunchy vadai looks awesome..
DEESHA says
Send me some Raks .. Perfect
jayasree says
Gorgeous clicks, Raji. As you said, I too prefer poriyal than vadai.
Divya Kudua says
I've only heard of this one-never tasted before.looks crispy and just like parippu vada!
Priti says
I heard, seen but never tasted this ...r u getting the hint? 🙂 ..looking fab
Priya's Feast says
Wow..I am tempted to fetch a vadai from the screen..Luks Nice and Crispy
Valarmathi Sanjeev says
Beautiful pics...vadas looks tempting and mouthwatering...nice presentation....
Prathibha says
They look superb raji...though I never tasted this..I can say that they must b tasting fab!!
loved ur new style of writing recipe wid d grey background..:)
Rinku Naveen says
Wow Raji..Never knew we could make such delicious vadas with vazhapoo. Loved the look of this page.Amazing clicks!
GEETHA ACHAL says
ரொம்ப ரொம்ப நல்லா இருக்கின்றது...சூப்பராக இருக்கின்றது...
A 2 Z Vegetarian Cuisine says
Crunchy crispy interesting vada..loved it
aipi says
So crispy n delcious it looks ~ perfect with garma garam chai 😉
USMasala
Krithi's Kitchen says
Super perfect vadas! Love it. you could send this to Serve t Fried event happening at our space!!
http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com/
Pavithra says
This is my all time fav .. unfortunately I am not getting good vazhaipoo here .. I badly miss it. I used to make Vazhaipoo every week in some form cos we love this so so much. U truly tempted me..parcel some in one night shipping 🙂 🙂
jeyashrisuresh says
Truly tempting. It has been ages since I made this. Nice version with fantastic clicks
Suja says
Healthy and tempting snack..perfect with tea
Santosh Bangar says
snack with cup of tea
Nitha says
That so crispy n yummy..
Nags says
that first pic is probably my favourite among all your pics, looks gorgeous!!! 🙂 i keep planning to buy vazhapoo but never do thinking of the work required to clean it.
FoodLovers says
want to grab the plate Raks send me the plate dear
Cilantro says
Nice and crispy vadai, my husbands fav. His mom cooks the Vazhai poo and then grinds it with dhal I follow the same procedure and never made it this way. Next time will try your version.
Rani acharyulu says
So crispy and delicious vadai.. looks awesome!
Nithya says
Perfect in shape, crisp and delicious 🙂 Invite me home for lunch plzzz.. teriffic post 🙂
Happy Cook / Finla says
wish i really could grab few from my screen. Super crunch.
Shanavi says
O my, I looove this vada Raks, my mom makes this often..U made it soo perfect, exact shape n size, just like the away I like it...:)
Archana says
Love these. Never tried making anything out of the poor flower as yet. Poor thing must be dreading the thoughts racing in my head. Can u tell me how it is to be cleaned?
Thanks.
Do check out my event and send me your entries.
Sayantani says
yummy looking vadai.
San says
Wow gorgeous vadai, my perima makes exactly the same way. The curd rice behind the scene is so tempting to have the vadai as the side.
http://sanscurryhouse.blogspot.com
Spandana says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Spandana says
Looks delicious....
But I have a basic question.. what is Vazhaipoo??
Am I being a dumbhead here 🙂
Smitha says
vadas look delicious and clicks are tempting!....all the crunchy goodness!
Priya says
Feel like munching some..super crispy vadais..
Reshmi Mahesh says
These look so tempting and awesome clicks...I just feel to grab one from pic...
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
wow, that is so much work and those vadai looks so good.
Ramya Bala says
wow...this is my favorite vadai...and enaku 10 vadai kooda pathathu.... ;)its so much of work...yeah thats y i love when others make it 😉
Shri says
Pictures are beautiful especially the first..The vadas look delicious
marla {Family Fresh Cooking} says
These look wonderful, wish I had for dinner 🙂
divya says
looks amazing and excellent clicks....
Sai Kanakha Lakshmi says
hai raks
u r really rocking. Your recipe is too good and presentation of recipes like photograph, using fonts style, each and everyng is also fabulous.
Prathima Rao says
Gorgeous, tempting, crispy, yummy vadai!!!
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
manimozhi says
Hi raks,
U blog is too gud...ur presentations are very nice...
A tip to add this recipe is if valaipoo is used raw it will drink lot of oil, to avoid this cook the valipoo for 2 min and grind it, it will not take much oil. and u can add some coconut also when grinding, it also gives a differnet flavour
Laavanya says
We had these over last weekend.. my mom makes it with just ulundhu or just kadalai paruppu - not combined like this. Looks crispy and perfect
Lavi says
Raji,Vadai is Perfect! First photo is so so perfect! Love this post!
Kurryleaves says
amazing...love the clicks..perfectly made vadais with a yummy twist..
CinnamonNChillies says
Vadas look lovely. So crispy!!! And a very helpful pictorial demonstration about how to clean vazhai poo. Thanks so much for sharing.
Sharada
http://www.CinnamonNChillies.com
Gayathri NG says
its one of my favourites. vadai looks yummy and tempting...
Now Serving says
drools aplenty! really yummy -too bad vazhai poo is not freely available here 🙁
Premalatha Aravindhan says
Busy with Aishu's Competition Raji,so in hurry bury missed this post...Vadas luks so tempting,clicks are absolutely gargeous...
priya ravi says
so crispy and crunchy... i love them very much..
Benazir says
yesterday i tried this..really super..it doesn't show i m cooking first time vaazhai poo vadai..
really enjoyed myself too..thanks for the recipe..
keeping going..
RAKS KITCHEN says
Thank you 🙂
Sarada Subramaniam says
Hey raks,
I have tried this....came out very nicely....thank you
Ram thilak says
Try Adding 2 tablespoon of dried coriander while grinding and instead of jeera try green fennel seeds .. Expecting reply
Sriravali Khura says
What is Vazhaipoo?
Raks anand says
Banana flower ... plantain flower
anandhk says
It is a pure Chettinad Dish made by Our Achis..!!! 😉
Raks anand says
Thank you for your feedback 🙂
Priya Ramkumar says
Nice idea of grinding the vazhai poo. I usually add it finely chopped and that would sometimes not bind well and would leave some disintegrated pieces. But today I ground it as mentioned here and could make better vadais than usual.
Raks anand says
Thank you 🙂
Unknown says
Hi mam I tried this recipe today it came super no words to express my joy boz my 4yrs kid ate stomac full thank u
Unknown says
Hi mam I tried this recipe today it came super no words to express my joy boz my 4yrs kid ate stomac full thank u
Padmaja Aravindan says
Made it today. Came out really good. Thanks for the perfect recipe!!
Raks Anand says
Thank you very much 🙂