Vazhaithandu Soup | Banana Stem Soup (VIDEO)
Selavu Rasam | Rasam for Cold & Cough Remedy (VIDEO)
March 24, 2021
Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani | Mutton Dum Biryani (VIDEO)
April 7, 2021
Vazhaithandu is Banana Stem. The banana tree is used in many ways and each part is used in cooking or for other purposes too. The banana tree gives us a banana, banana stem (vazhaithandu), banana flower (vazhaipo), banana leaf. Banana leaf is used as a plate which aids great digestive properties, Banana is a very healthy fruit, banana tree flower is used in stir fry or kootu, banana stem is used in stir fry, curry, gravy, fritters, soup, raita and many more.
Vazhaithandu soup is very simple yet healthy. It takes less than 20 minutes if we use a pressure cooker. I have made this dish in a pan but you can prepare them using a pressure cooker which reduces your cooking time.
Banana stem benefits:
- Detox and digestion
- Treating kidney stones
- It aids weight loss
- It manages blood pressure and cholesterol
- It treats diabetes
Tips to make perfect Banana Stem soup:
- Do not replace coriander seeds with coriander powder.
- Keep the chopped banana stem in the cold water to avoid discolouration.
- Adding cornflour slurry is optional.
- Adjust pepper powder according to your preference.
- If you are using the pressure cooker to cook banana stem then cook for 5 whistles.
This is Banana Stem (Vazhaithandu):
Here is the step by step process for Vazhaithandu Soup:
Make a slit on the top of the banana stem and remove the outer layer (shown in the pic).
This is how it looks after we remove the outer layer. Keep this chopped banana stem in a bowl of cold water to avoid discolouration.
Take a pan, add 2 tbsp oil, add chopped banana stem
Then 2 garlic cloves, a small piece of ginger
a sprig of curry leaves, 1 tsp cumin seeds
salt to taste, 1/4 tsp turmeric
add 2 cups of water and cover the pan. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes or till the banana stem is soft. If you are using a pressure cooker then cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
Once it is cooked for 30 minutes, remove the stock and ingredients separately. Now ground the ingredients to a smooth paste.
Take the stock in a saucepan, then filter the ground paste well using a sieve.
Discard the remaining waste. Now mix everything and again cook the soup for one boil.
Add 1/2 tsp pepper powder and 2 tbsp slurry to make it thick.
To make cornflour slurry: Take 1 tsp cornflour in 2 tbsp water and mix well. The slurry is ready to add.
Finally, add a tbsp of coriander leaves and mix well. Now Vazhaithandu soup is ready.
Ready to serve
Vazhaithandu soup is nothing but banana stem soup. Check out the video and step by step process for healthy and tasty soup.
Ingredients
- Banana Stem - 1 medium size
- Garlic - 2 cloves
- Ginger - 1 small piece
- Curry Leaves - 1 sprig
- Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp
- Turmeric - 1/4 tsp
- Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp
- Coriander Leaves - 1 tsp
- Corn flour - 1 tsp (for slurry)
- Salt, to taste
- Oil
Method
- Take a pan, add the chopped banana stem, 2 garlic cloves, a small piece of ginger, a sprig of curry leaves, 1 tsp cumin seeds, salt, ¼ tsp turmeric and mix well.
- Add 2 cups of water and cover the pan.
- Cook the banana stem for 25 to 30 minutes or till it is soft.
- Once the banana stem is cooked well, remove the stock separately and grind the cooked ingredients to a smooth paste.
- Take the stock in a pan and filter the ground paste in the sieve and mix it with the stock.
- Now cook the soup for one boil, add ½ tsp pepper powder, 2 tbsp cornflour slurry and give it a mix.
- Finally, add a tbsp of coriander leaves and mix.
- Serve hot.
Notes
1. Do not replace coriander seeds with coriander powder.
2. Keep the chopped banana stem in the cold water to avoid discolouration.
3. Adding cornflour slurry is optional.
4. Adjust pepper powder according to your preference.
5. If you are using the pressure cooker to cook banana stem then cook for 5 whistles.
Serve with Love
