Banana Stem Stir Fry

INGREDIENTS :

(1) 1 Banana Stem piece.
(2) 1 tablespoon of curd or 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
(3) 3/4 teaspoon of Mustard seeds / Rai.
(4) 1 teaspoon of Urad dal
(5) 1 teaspoon of Chana dal
(6) Half teaspoon of Cumin seeds / Jeera
(7) 2 small Onions, finely chopped
(8) 1 medium sized Tomato, finely chopped
(9) 2 green chillies, finely chopped
(10) 1 spring of Curry leaves
(11) Chopped Coriander leaves for garnishing

How to clean Banana stem for cooking:

For novice cooks, it is advised to lay old newspapers on the kitchen platform before starting to cut this vegetable. Wear an apron as this leaves stains that cannot be removed.

After we cut the stem into small pieces, immerse the cut pieces in water to which 1 spoon of curd is mixed or 1 spoon of lemon juice is mixed. This is done to prevent the changes in colour of the cut banana stem pieces due to oxidation.

Take a wide bowl and fill it with water. Add few spoons of curd or lemon juice into this and mix and keep aside.

Banana stem has two types of layers. A hard inner layer which is edible and a porous outer layer which has to be discarded. Make a slit on the outer layer and remove it. Sometimes, you may have to discard two to three layers until you reach the hard and firm inner layer. Check out the steps in the video.

Now you have a cylindrical inner stem which you can chop into very small pieces and put them all into the curd or lemon water as shown in the image and video.

I have taken the video in three parts. As I myself was learning from my mother how to clean the banana stem, the first video clip shows her cleaning and cutting the banana stem. The second and third video clips shows me following the same process.