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February 19, 2009

Vazhaikkai Podimas (Version 2)



There was a time when I had to travel a great deal to lay my hands on plantains/raw bananas. And I think that it was probably easier for me to go to Madras and have Amma make me some vazhaikkai karumadhu or kaela phodiyo than it was to travel from Gurgaon to CR Park to buy certain vegetables. This time around, I find that vegetables are far easier to come by in Gurgaon. And when the local Mother Dairy/Safal outlet inside my apartment complex sells vegetables that I like, I am certain that this city has come a long way.


I made a version of vazhaikkai podimas sometime back. Once I'd finished making it, I realized that this wasn't close to what I'd eaten growing up. My Mami in Bombay used to make a lot of Tamil dishes. And she didn't stop with sambar and rasam. She'd make things like paruppu usli and podimas. Amma didn't make podimas, but my Mami did. I decided to get her recipe and try it. It turned out to be very tasty. I have made it a couple of times since and it never fails to impress.


2 Raw Bananas/Plantains, steamed, peeled and grated

1 tsp Oil

1/4 tsp Mustard Seeds

1/4 tsp Asafoetida

1/4 tsp Urad Dal

1.4 tsp Chana Dal

2 Green Chillies, chopped

1 tbsp Coconut, scraped

a Pinch of Turmeric Powder (optional)

Juice of 1 Lime

Salt to taste


Heat the oil in a kadhai. Add the urad and chana dals. When the urad dal turns light brown, add the mustard seeds and the asafoetida. When the mustard splutters, add the green chillies, the turmeric, if using, and the grated bananas. Add the salt and take off the heat. Stir in the lime juice and add the coconut. Mix well.


This makes for a great side with a traditional Tamil lunch. Or you could even eat it as a salad like I do. Either way, it is a keeper recipe.

11 comments:

Finla said...

Here we don't get the raw bananas ( the typical one we have in India) if i need one I have to go to Brussels or to other cities to chinese shops,
I have never had this, looks good.

FH said...

I just made a plantain dish too, will post sometime.

Podimas looks yummy. Plantains we get here is from South America, not so good like Indian ones. They are so tough, I have to pressure cook them to soften orelse you will be cooking for hrs and hrs on stove top!:)

Deepthi Shankar said...

we dont get raw bananas home .. but i love this dish

Laavanya said...

I love vazhakai podimas but for some reason it doesn't turn out as soft & perfect with the plantains I get here... so don't make it that often. My mom typically adds ginger and onions too.

Swapna said...

Poodimas looks delicious. Goes great with kara kulambu...

Rajitha said...

this is how my mom makes the podimas sans the lime juice tho...love it...after the alu to :D..how are you doing??

Sanghi said...

Mm.. i feel at home seeing this podimas raaga. Good one.. Thanks for reminding me of my home.:)

Kitchen Chronicles said...

Podimaas reminds me of India. Nice.

Bindiya said...

this is new to me, but looks good, really liked the way u described it!

AnuSriram said...

Looks lovely! I too make it the same way.

A_and_N said...

You know I have never eaten Podimas though I'm Tamil! I should so do it soon!