Vazhakkai Kola Urundai – Raw Banana Kofta

Vazhakkai Kola Urundai is a delicious snack / starter. I had been wanting to make this since a long time. I have already posted a raw banana kofta curry earlier. This is a variation to it. Usually kola urundai is made with meat. This is a vegetarian version  Without much fancy ingredients and elaborate preparations, this can be made quickly. This is a very popular dish in Chettinadu cuisine.

Video…

Now to the recipe..

[Preparation Time-10 mins : Cooking Time- 30 mins]

Vazhakkai Kola Urundai Ingredients:

• Raw Banana – 3 (small)
• Pottukadalai/Roasted gram dal powder – 3 to 4 tbsp
• Salt – as needed
• Oil – to deep fry

To grind into a coarse paste:

• Shallots – 4 to 5
• Ginger – 1 inch piece
• Garlic – 3 cloves
• Curry leaves – a sprig
• Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
• Chilli powder – 1 tsp

Method:

• Boil and cook raw banana until soft and the skin turns black. Let it cool and peel the skin. It will come out easily if cooked properly.

• Grate the cooked raw banana in a wide bowl. Take all the ingredients mentioned under “to grind” in a mixer and grind it into a coarse paste.

• Add the ground paste to the grated raw banana. Add 2-3 tbsp of powdered pottukadalai and the required salt. Mix well with your hands so that it forms a dough. It will be sticky, do not panic.

• Grease your hands with oil and make small sized balls out of it. Heat a pan with oil enough to deep fry. Drop the balls 5-6 at a time and fry until golden brown/crisp. Drain them in paper towels.

Thats it! Yummy Vazhakkai Kola Urundai ready!

Serve hot!

Tips:

1. Keep 1/2 cup of pottukadalai powder handy. Add little by little to form a dough. U might not need all of it.
2. U can use besan/chickpea flour instead of pottukadalai powder. But the taste will be different.
3. Adjust spice levels according to your taste buds. The addition of roasted gram flour will suppress the spiciness.
4. U may add 1 or 2 tbsp of water while grinding. I did not add any though.

– By Sundari Nathan