Vazhapoo / Banana Flower Vada

Banana Flowers in Red Bracts

Banana flower-head, appearing in the Indian Groceries during this season. Prompted by a recent visit to India and  the opportunity to sample Bengali cuisine  which included,   Banana Flower cutlets, we picked up a 'banana flower head/ Vazha Khumbu'. The opportunity to sample a traditional Bengali spread was at Kolkata's Bhojohari Manna.

Spicy Cream Cheese and Cumin Dip

I make this recipe with yogurt or hung curd and sometimes with a mix of the two.  Today it is cream cheese.

Ingredients are added and  omitted according to the availability.

Cumin alongwith one 'hot' spice' is the consistent one.
The flavours always go well with chips or vegetables and as a sandwich spread.

Hope this gets added to your savoury chip and dip repertoire!

 Ingredients

1 8 oz /226 gms packet of softened Cream Cheese

2 tbsps of finely chopped red onions

1/2 cup of finely chopped mix of yellow/orange bell peppers

3 finger hot green chillies/ or according to preference

1/4 tsp cumin seeds, lightly roasted

Two pinches of red pepper flakes [optional]

Salt

Method

Soften the cream cheese

Add the finely chopped bell peppers, onions and green chillies, 

Mix Well

Add two pinches of the lightly roasted  and crushed cumin seeds

Add the red chilli flakes [optional]

Season with salt

Serve with chips.
This goes to SYF & HWS-Cumin Seeds Event started by Anu.
It also goes to Lyndsey's Sweet Heat Bloggers Challenge for the Game Food event. It is also linked to Priya's The Big Chutney Chowdown event.