Raw Banana Pulusu

Ingredients:

• Raw banana- 1 1/2 
• Tamarind- 1/8 cup (Washed)
• Water- 1 cup (or less)
• Jaggery- 1 tbsp
• Onion- 1 big
• Green chilies- 1-2 slit 
• Curry leaves- 5-8
• Turmeric powder- 1/8 tsp
• Salt- 1 tsp
• Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp 
• Cumin Powder- 1/2 tsp
• Red Chili powder- 1/4 tsp (or more)

For Tempering:

• Oil- 2 1/2 tbsp (1 + 1 1/2)
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Cumin seeds- 1/4 tsp (Jeera)
• Dry Red Chilies- 3 broken
• Asafoetida- 1/4 tsp 

Method:

1. Wash and peel the raw banana. The skin will be thick so use a knife to remove it.
2. Cut the banana into 1/2 inch pieces and boil for 7-10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and turmeric powder after 6 minutes of boiling.
3. Meanwhile, wash and soak tamarind in 1/4 cup of water. 
4. Peel and chop the onion. 
5. Slit the green chili. 
6. Once the raw banana is parboiled, mash half of it with the back of a spatula. 
7. Do not throw away the excess water. We will use it for the pulusu.
8. Place it on the heat again (simmer). 
9. In a small pan add 1 1/2 tbsp of oil. 
10. Add green chilies and chopped onions. 
11. Fry till transparent.
12. In the meantime, squeeze tamarind and make pulp. Add the pulp to the mashed banana mix. 
13. Add the fried onions to the mix.
14. Keep stirring occasionally.
15. Add jaggery, salt, and the powders.
16. Mix well. 
17. Take the same small pan and prepare tempering.
18. Add 1 tbsp oil to it.
19. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dry red chili, asafoetida. 
20. If using garlic add peeled and crushed garlic to the tempering.
21. Once the mustard seeds splutter, turn off the heat. 
22. Add the tempering to the pulusu and mix well.
23. Let it sit on simmer for about 5 minutes.
24. Turn off the heat and let it settle. 
25. The pulusu will thicken up a little.
26. Serve with rice, roti, dosa, etc
27. It can be used for both lunch and dinner.