Vazhakkoombu Cherupayar Thoran, Banana Flower and Green Gram Stir Fry

1. Wash and cook green gram with little salt and enough water; Drain and set aside.
2. Crush together grated coconut, cumin seeds, garlic cloves, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, salt and set aside.
3. Peel and discard a few of the dark, outer layers of banana flower; Rub little oil in hand and chop all parts of the remaining banana flower finely and soak in cold water for about 15 minutes.
4. After that rinse it with a spoon and you will notice a sticky stain thread clinging onto the spoon. Repeat this process until the sticky stain thread removed completely.
5. Heat coconut oil in a pan, add dried red chillies and mustard seeds, allow mustard seeds to splutter; Then add chopped pearl onion and curry leaves and sauté till the onion become translucent.
6. Then add the chopped banana flower, and sauté for 2-3 minutes on low-medium heat. Add little water and cook till done.
7. Then add the crushed coconut mix, cooked green gram into this and mix well; Cook until the water content evaporates completely( check for salt at this stage ).
8. Serve with Rice.

Notes:

• Instead of soaking the chopped banana flower in cold water, rub a tablespoon of coconut oil on the chopped banana flower.
• Keep it aside for 10-15 minutes. This will also help in removing the sticky stain thread from the chopped banana flower.
• Then rinse it with oiled hand and remove the stain thread.