Vaazhaipoo Vadai ~ Banana Flower Fritters

Ingredients:
Vaazhaipoo / Banana Flower - 1
Channa Dal / Yellow Split Peas - 1 1/2 cups
Toor Dal - 1/2 cup
Urad Dal - 2 TBSP
Dry Red Chilies - 6 or to taste
Green chilies - 2
Fennel Seeds / Sombu - 1 TBSP (optional)
Ginger - 1 small piece
Asafoetida - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Few Curry Leaves
Oil - for frying

Refer Radhika's step-by-step post for how to clean the banana flower.

Method:

1. Wash all three dals (channa, toor and urad) thoroughly and soak it for 2 − 3 hours.
2. Clean the banana flower and keep it aside.  Do not chop the flowers at this time.
3. Drain the soaked dal.
4. In a food processor, first grind the chilies, ginger and fennel seeds with a handful of soaked dal until smooth.  Do not add any water when you are grinding.
5. Add the remaining dal and grind to a coarse paste.  Add curry leaves, salt and asafoetida and pulse for couple of times.
6. Remove the paste and place it in a bowl.
7. In the same food processor, chop the banana flower coarsely.
8. Add the chopped flower to the ground dal and mix thoroughly.
9. Heat oil in pan or kadai.  Keep the flame to medium.
10. Take a golf ball size dough, flatten into small discs and fry them in hot oil until golden brown.