Plantain podimas - Thanjavur style

This is another one of my favorite recipes. At my mom’s place, I’ve never seen her make podimas with plantain (vazhakkai). But at my in-laws’ place, they make this plantain podimas. The main ingredients are as follows:
Ingredients:-

1. Plantain(vaazhakkai) - 2
2. Oil - 2 tbsp
3. Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
4. Urid dal - 1/2 tsp
5. Fresh coconut - 1 tbsp
6. Green chillies - 2
7. ginger - a small piece
8. Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
9. Salt to taste
10. Curry leaves - 10 nos
11. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
12. Asafoetida powder -

There are two ways to cook vazhakkai. One method is to remove the skin, cut it into small cubes, and pressure-cook it with salt and turmeric powder for up to 2 whistles (do not mash the cubes). The other method is to cut the vazhakkai into two pieces (after trimming the ends) and pressure-cook it with salt for up to 2 whistles. After removing it from the pressure cooker, peel the skin (it will be easier) and mash it. You can choose either method.

Now, take a wide pan and heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds. When they splutter, add the urad dal, green chilies, curry leaves, asafoetida powder, ginger, and turmeric powder (if you chose the second method of cooking). Fry until golden brown. Add the vazhakkai cubes or mashed vazhakkai and mix everything thoroughly.

Turn off the stove and let it cool. After 10 minutes, add the lemon juice and mix well. Sprinkle fresh coconut on top. Vazhakkai podimas is ready to serve. This should be a wonderful side dish for vatha kuzhambu or any kind of kuzhambu.