Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Baked Banana Blossom Fritters / Baked Vazhaipoo Vadais | Indian Appetizers

I believe many of you would be like me when it comes to deep fried foods. Would love deep fried foods but reluctant to fry even occasionally due to the fat content and calories in it. I had always been finding ways to replace deep frying whenever possible. I used to oven roast potatoes, cauliflower, bitter gourd and even bell peppers. This time I wanted to bake the all-time favorite vadas but didn't want to compromise on the taste though. I was actually keeping my fingers crossed until the vadas were ready and I tasted one. I was really happy that the taste was exactly the same and even more happier when my DH gave a thumbs up. It was a super-crispy, tasty yet low calorie indulgence. I made this vadas little bite sized to enable faster cooking in the oven.



Ingredients:
Vazhaipoo / Banana blossom - 1 - Cleaned
Chana dhal - 1 small cup - Soaked for 2 hrs

Onion - finely chopped - 1 cup
Garlic - 5 - chopped fine

Cilantro/Coriander leaves - about 7 or 8 twigs
Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/2 tsp

Ginger - 1/2" piece
Red chillies - 3
Turmeric powder - a pinch

Salt - to taste 
Oil - 1-1/2 tbsp

Method:
Preheat the oven to 400 F/200 C. Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and spray with oil. Steam the cleaned banana blossom until soft. You could cook it in a microwave with a little water for 5 to 7 mins. Let cool. Place the soaked chana dhal in a blender/mixie with red chillies, fennel seeds, garam masala, ginger, turmeric powder and salt. Grind to a coarse mixture. Do not add water yet. Add the cooled banana blossom along with water used to steam in the blender and pulse until everything is combined. Transfer the mixture to a big mixing bowl and add the onion, garlic, chopped cilantro and oil. Mix well. Take a tablespoon or two size mixture and make balls. Place over the foil and flatten it. Place all the balls with 1 inch gap between them. Bake in oven for 30 to 40 mins, flipping once in between.
Sending these lovely and healthy baked banana blossom fritters to the following events
Healing Foods - Banana event by Siri, happening here at my blog this month
Herbs & Flowers - Banana Blossom event by PJ, guest hosted by Saffron streaks
Food Palette Series - Purple event by Akheela
Let's Cook - School Break time snacks event by Radhika
MLLA - #36 - event by Susan happening at Served with Love
Kid's Delight - Mini bites event by Srivalli, guest hosted by Champa 
   
Pictures1-2   

Sending this to ABC series - B for Banana event by Ramya.

49 comments:

  1. wow nice and very healthy fritters !! loved the idea of baking them !!

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  2. wow loved the recipe and the presentatn

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  3. Kirti,
    This is a super duper idea to enjoy fritters without worrying about calories . Nicely presented too

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  4. Super crispy n this is guilt free version..Def. double like.. U must be damn tired by linking this to so many events :)..

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  5. Healthy choice n nice idea...very neat presentation..like all your clicks...lovely!!

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  6. thats a nice idea of baking the vadais.nice presentation

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  7. Wowwwwwwww... Very innovative and healthy recipe.. looks absolutely tempting.. thanks for the recipe dear !!
    Indian Cuisine

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  8. Crunchy and yummy fitters... Loved the baked healthy version...

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  9. Absolutely guilt free vadas..have never made vadas with banana blossom..nice idea Krithi.

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  10. No need to listen to our conscience with guilt I guess. Thanka a lot for sending them my way dear.

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  11. Baked sounds very interesting...healthy and tasty too

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  12. Healthy choice and gr8 idea...very lovely presentation..like all ur clicks...:)

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  13. Omg, with a single baked fritters u have covered loads of events, that truly brilliant Krithi...Guilt free baked fritters looks fabulous and inviting..

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  14. this is one of my childhood fav .. i love it.. my grand ma often prepares this specially for me..

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  15. Healthy and nutritious baked fritters....nice clicks

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  16. incredible..looks so incredible..wannt taste now..:P

    Tasty Appetite

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  17. நானுà®®் இப்படி தான் அடிக்கடி செய்வதுண்டு...à®°ொà®®்ப ஹெல்தியான வடை...

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  18. Looks soo crunchy ..feel like grabbing one:-)

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  19. these look yummy - I have never had banana blossom before - have to try it soon...

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  20. Wow... Very innovative and healthy recipe.. looks absolutely tempting.. thanks for the recipe dear !!

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  21. This's such a brilliant idea - super healthy and delicious too! I usually make stir fry with banana blossom, next time I'll try this :)

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  22. One, I have never tasted banana blossom but have just come across few fritter recipes..And then, this is baked?? Wow!!! It looks so yummy!!!!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  23. Man, those look amazing! Great, now I am hungry first thing in the morning :)

    http://totefullofveggies.blogspot.com

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  24. Crunchy,healthy and delicious..innovative recipe..nice one dear

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  25. superb low calorie vadas...........

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  26. Crispy snack and healthy version.....yummmy...Loved the 2nd click...

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  27. i like baked cutlets.. these look yum!

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  28. superb cutlets dear, new to me..healthy n lovely recipe..:)

    Event:COOK IT HEALTHY:PROTEINicious

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  29. healthy delicious snack looks wonderful thank you for linking this to the food palette series purple

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  30. Awesome Healthy snack..bookmarked it!! nice clicks!

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  31. Deliciousness ~ I would love one now!
    US Masala

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  32. thanks krithi for your appetizing fritters for the event herbs and flowers.

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  33. never thought of making banana blossom fritters, I will try this and see what it taste...your pictures are awesome =)

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  34. looks awesome!!!perfectly baked vadas... :)

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  35. They look yummy! I like you try not to fry too much, I keep it for special occasions, and fried food can be addictive :-).

    Ciao
    Alessandra

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  36. This looks delicious. YOu know I don't like banana blossoms and my mom makes some kind of dry sabji with that which is everybody's fav except mine. But looking at this I am getting tempted ! But isn't peeling those yellow thingy from the blossom petal a pain ?
    www.sunshineandsmile.com

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  37. Wow! Banana blossom is as such healthy... and the baked version is even better!

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  38. Wow Nice way of eating vadas without worrying about calories...:) yummy vada.

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  39. presentation is very cute Kirti. They look so crispy.

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  40. loved the baked beauties krithi- guilt free indulgence and no taste compromise that 's a killer combo !!

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  41. wow..healthy vadas..love vazhai poo vadas..nice clicks..

    Event : Quick and Easy recipe mela

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  42. Looks tempting and healthy too!


    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

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  43. Woww.. that looks awesome :D I have sent mine too

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  44. baking it makes it much more healthy indeed. thanks for linking to my event.

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