Vazhakkai Pulikulambu

Ingredients
Items	Qnty	Comments
Plantain or Raw Banana	1	(tamil:vazhakkai)
Onion	1 whole onion small size	if u get small onions (tamil:chinna vengayam-1/2 cup) that would be the best for this recipe)
Tomato	1 whole tomato medium size	(tamil:thakkali)
Garlic	1 flake	(tamil:vellai poondu)
Tamarind	In the size of a lemon	(tamil:puli)
Chilly powder	1 teaspoon	(tamil:milagai thul)
Dhania Powder	1 teaspoon	(tamil:malli thul)
Green Curry Leaves	5 leaves	(tamil:karuvepilai)
Fennel Seeds	1/4 teaspoon	(tamil:sombu)
Fenugreek or methi seeds	1/4 teaspoon	(tamil:vendayam)
Salt	3/4 teaspoon	Or as required
Oil	4 teaspoons	For frying

Method

1. Soak the tamarind in water and keep it aside.After some time make it into a thick paste and strain it.Add 1 cup of water to it.

2. Lay flat the raw banana and cut it into round shapes as if you are slicing it.Each piece can be ½ an inch.(No need to remove the skin).

3. Cut the onion and tomato into small pieces.

4. Heat the oil in a sauce pan and add the fennel seeds,methi seeds and curry leaves.

5. After it splutters add the onion and tomato and sauté well.

6. Add chilly powder and dhania powder and sauté well.

7. Now pour the tamarind juice and add salt.

8. Put in the cut raw banana pieces into the mixture and allow it to boil in a low flame.

9. After 10 minutes put in 1 crushed garlic flake.

10. When the mixture gets thick and oil floats on top off the stove.

11. Transfer to a serving dish.

· The raw banana should be real green.The ripe ones can alter the taste.

· Brinjal(kathirikkai)can be used instead of plantain for the same recipe or both can be used together.

· Salt and chilly powder can be varied according to taste.