Bajji or TambuLi or Sasive is a dish served at the start of the meal in Western Ghats and Coastal regions of Karnataka.
The simplicity of TambuLi makes it more interesting and healthy. There is no end to experimenting with TambuLi given its versatile nature. Broadly speaking, TambuLi is made either using leaves or dal or a vegetable. The closest dish of Tambuli that we can all relate is Raita.
This dish has three main ingredients: Coconut, yogurt/curd and one of the leaves/dal/vegetable.
Leaf Based TambuLi:
Some of the leaf based ones made from spinach leaves, malabar spinach(BasaLe Soppu), Vitamin leaves, kaaki leaves, basale leaves, ondelaga, soorli, perale kudi(guava leaves), gargan kudi most of these being innate to Western Ghats.
Dal TambuLi:
Some of the dal based ones are made from kadle/chana(soaked bengal gram), menthe/methi(fenugreek seeds).
Vegetable TambuLi:
Few vegetables based ones made from southe kai(cucumber), kumblu kai(ash gourd), banana stem, ginger, okra, eggplant and so on.
In this post, I will be writing a detailed recipe for banana stem bajji/tambuli. Its funny how every part of the banana plankton can be used to create a recipe.
You can find my recipe to Banana Stem Chutney here.
Ingredients:
Banana Stem chopped- 1 cup
Green Chillies- 2
Coconut- 1/4 cup
Salt- as per taste
Curd- 3/4 cup (as per consistency desired)For Tempering/OggaraNe/TaDka
Oil- 2 tsp
Jeera- 1 tsp
Mustard Seeds- 1 tsp
Hing- a pinch
Red Chillies- 1-2
Curry leaves chopped- 2 to 3
This is what the inside of banana stem looks like after removing 5 to 7 thicker outer layers until you get to the soft pulp which is edible.
Chop them into small pieces.
Also add shredded coconut and shallow fried green chillies in oil for about 30 seconds.
Grind them all together with little water.
And add some salt as well. I have used rock salt here. Table salt can be used as well.
Once ground, move it to a bowl and add curd to it.
Add a wonderful taDka with oil, mustard seeds, red chillies, hing and curry leaves. Give it a good stir and Bale Dindin Bajji aka banana stem raita is ready to be served!
Happy Cooking!! 🙂