Vazha Koombu Thoran( Banana Blossom with Coconut)

Preparation of this dish is definitely not as easy as it sounds. Cleaning the flowers and getting it ready for preparation is a big task. Smear your hands with oil before you start. This is to prevent them from staining. First, remove the hard covering of the banana blossom. Below every layer, you will find rows of florets. Keep the florets aside and discard the hard covering. Keep repeating this till you come a pale colored edible part. Now chop this fine. As you chop them, transfer to a bowl that holds water diluted with curd. This ensures that discoloration does not happen. Keep aside and now work on the florets.
The mature florets will have a stigma and a transparent shield. Remove the two and discard.Chop the rest of the florets finely. Add this to the chopped banana blossom. The stigma and cover from the tender ones need not be removed. Now it is ready to be cooked. So here you go.

Ingredients

1.Banana flower-2
Onion-1
Salt to taste

2.Jeera -1 tsp
Green chillies -2 - small
Coconut - 1 cup
Small Onions - 4
Garlic cloves -3 - small
Turmeric Powder - 1/2 ts

3.Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Urad Dal - 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves - 1 spring
Red Chillies - 2
Coconut Oil - 1-2 tbsp

Directions

1. Heat coconut oil in a deep pan.
2. Add the items listed as 3. They are for tempering.
3. Add the chopped onions and then the drained banana flower.
4. Add salt.Cover and cook on medium flame for 10 minutes till they are cooked.
5. Grind the items listed under 2 to be ground together into a slightly coarse paste. 
6. Now make a well in the center of the cooking banana flower and add the ground item.
7. Gather up everything together and cover and cook on medium flame.
8. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
9. Mix everything together and increase the flame to high. Cook for another minute or two.
10. Serve hot with rice.