Valaithandu Soup

வாழைத்தண்டு சூப் – Valaithandu Soup

Valaithandu soup is a healthy soup. It helps in flushing out toxins from body, managing cholesterol and blood pressure. It also helps to reduce weight, treating kidney stones and urinary track infection. Banana stem heals acidity and gastric problems. This version of the soup is very easy to prepare and tastes good as well. You can find the banana stem cleaning process explained in this recipe.

விரிவான பட விளக்கங்களுடன் தமிழில் செய்முறை இங்கே.

Ingredients for Valaithandu Soup

Valaithandu/Banana stem – 1/4 kg
Thin butter milk / 2 tbs curd + water
Toor dal – 3 tbs
Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Pepper – 1 tbs
Cumin seeds – 1/4 tsp + 1/2 tbs
Oil – 2 tsp
Curry leaves – 1 spring
Small onion – 5 (chopped)
Garlic – 2 pods
Ginger – 1/2 inch size
Salt as needed
Cilantro for garnish

Directions

Pre-preparation

Remove the excess fibre from the banana stem.
Chop the stem into small pieces.
Add chopped banana stem pieces into thin butter milk.
Crush the garlic and ginger.
Also crush the black pepper and cumin seeds.

Cook the stem

Wash the dal and add to pressure cooker.
Add the chopped banana stem, turmeric powder and salt.
Pour little more water to immerse the banana stem and dal.
Pressure cook the dal and banana stem in medium flame for 5-7 whistles.

Extract the Juice

Collect the excess water from the pressure cooker.
Blend the banana stem using hand mixer or blender.
Add the blended stem in the strainer.
Press hard to extract all juice.

Prepare Soup

Heat oil in a pan and add 1/4 tsp cumin seeds.
After the seeds cracked add curry leaves.
Add the chopped onion and crushed ginger garlic paste.
Sauté them until raw smell goes.
Add the juice extract in pressure cooker, salt and mix well.
Sprinkle the crushed pepper and cumin seeds.
Let the soup to boil for 5 minutes and switch off the flame.
Garnish with chopped cilantro.
Valaithandu soup ready.
Serve the soup in a bowl.

Notes

Young stem doesn’t have much fibre to remove and doesn’t need to strain after cooked.
According to your taste, use the amount of pepper.
Use mixie jar to grind the cooked banana stem if you don’t have hand mixer.
If you don’t like onions in soup avoid this ingredient.
You may use big onion as an alternative for small onion.