Banana Blossom Patoli (Ground dal with Banana Blossom)

Soak 1 cup (100 gms) chana dal for 2-4 hours.

Prepare Banana Blossom: Separate the flowerets from the shells. Remove thick fiber from EACH of the floweret. (Stop right here if you cannot identify and remove the thick fiber.) Blend in sour buttermilk in a food processor. (You can stone grind this too.)

Blend:

2 green chilies
1-2 red chilies
1/8 tsp turmeric
a pinch of asafetida
½ tsp salt (to taste)

along with the soaked and washed dal and prepared banana blossom.

Garnish

Heal 3 Tsp oil. When the oil is hot, add the spices in the following order, 10-15 seconds apart:

½ tsp chana dal (Optional)
½ tsp urad dal
½ tsp cumin seeds
2-3 red chilies
2 sprigs curry leaves

Add and sauté the above paste.