Maatoda

Maatoda is a bhaji, for which , Plantain Flower, Tender Cluster Beans or Methi Leaves is used.
Most homes use Tur Dal,some use Chana Dal.
Tur DAl--One Cup, REd Chillies --4/5, Ginger --one inch peice, green chillies--5/6 as per taste,Jeera ---One Teaspoon,Hing-- 1/4 spoon,coconut scrapings---1/2 cup,salt to taste and curry leaves---- one sprig.Cooking Oil--- One big laddle full.[more if necessary], mustard seeds.
Incredents;--- One Plantain Flower . When the the top layer is peeled you will find the flower with tiny plantain, Take this and in the middle the will be a long stem witha tiny head, you have got to pull this out. [ it is said that this makes the bhaji bitter] this has to be removed from all the flowers one by one. In a vessel keep diluted butter milk and apply this on your palms before you start to work on the banana flower. [ this will prevent your hands from stains]. after you have dealt with all the flowers cut it and put it into diluted butter milk.
Soak one cup of Tur dal for an hour or a little more along with a few red dry chillies.
Next remove all the excess water, from the dal.Grind the dal with coconut, jeera green chillies ginger COURSLY. Heat oil
Heat oil add mustard seeds, hing and curry leaves.When the mustard splutters add the ground Dal and the plantain flower, mix well and cook on slow fire, sriring the mix every now and then .It should become almost crisp. remove from fire and serve with rice.
for the health conscious, the dal can be made into flat rounds, like we do for cutlets and steamed for 10/12 mins, along with the cut banana flower and seasoned as per the recipe.