Raw Banana Bharta - South Indian style

 

             You must have had baingan bharta (mashed eggplant), a very popular Punjabi dish, numerous times. So how about trying out Raw Banana Bharta in a South Indian fusion style? I added some sambar powder to the end product. It is equally yummy and tastes awesome. 

             You can add some red chili flakes for extra spiciness. It goes very well with chapatti or any flat Indian bread. However, it can also be served as a side dish with dal-chawal, sambar/rasam rice or curd rice. So give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

• 2-3 raw bananas, boiled whole
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. mustard seeds
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, chopped
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 sprig curry leaves
• 1 tomato, chopped
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 2-3 tbsp. sambar powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice 
• 2-3 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Discard the skin from the boiled bananas and mash / grate it. Keep aside. Heat oil in a pan and temper with mustard seeds and asafoetida.  

          After it stops spluttering, add the onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies and curry leaves. Stir fry till light brown. 

          Now add the tomato, turmeric powder, red chili powder and coriander powder. Mix everything well and sauté on a medium flame till the tomatoes are mashed. Sprinkle some water if needed.

          When done, add the grated raw banana and salt. Give it a stir and continue to stir fry for a couple of minutes. 

          Now add the sambar powder, coriander leaves and lime juice. Give it a toss and switch off the flame. Keep it covered for 2-3 minutes. Serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

                     Heat oil & temper with mustard seeds & asafoetida. Allow it to splutter.

                    Add onion, ginger, garlic, green chilies & curry leaves. Sauté till light brown. 

                     Add tomato, turmeric powder, red chili powder & coriander powder. Mix 

                     well & sauté till the tomatoes are mashed. Sprinkle some water if needed.

                     Add grated raw banana & salt. Give it a stir & stir fry for 4-5 minutes. 

                    Add sambar powder, coriander leaves & lime juice. Give it a toss & switch 

                    off the flame. Keep it covered for 2-3 minutes.

                                  Serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

Banana Dry Fruits Pancakes

          An easy to prepare evening tea-time snack, these yummy pancakes are loaded with dry fruits, banana and other basic ingredients. So if you have any over ripe bananas leftover, go ahead and give it a try. 

          Enjoy as an evening tea-time snack, as a dessert or for breakfast. Choice is yours. But do not forget to drizzle some rabdi and garnish with some sliced banana and dry fruits. It is a best treat for kids and for a kitty party too. 

• 2 bananas, chopped
• 1/2 cup milk or as required
• 2 eggs
• 2-3 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 cup plain flour (maida)
• 1/3 cup sugar or to taste
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 cup chopped dry fruits (cranberries, walnuts, dates, apricots, melon seeds, raisins, tutti frutti)
• oil to shallow fry
• extra dry fruits, sliced banana, rabdi & mint leaves to garnish

          Blend the bananas, milk,  rose water, coconut and eggs. Keep aside. Sift together flour, sugar, salt, cardamom powder and baking powder. Mix all the ingredients together into a smooth batter.

          Heat a non-stick pan and add a tsp. of oil. Pour a ladleful of the prepared batter and swirl it around. 

          Cook on a low flame for a minute or till it is lightly browned. Gently flip it over and cook the other side too. 

          Transfer to a serving plate. Make similar pancakes with the remaining batter. Drizzle with some rabdi and garnish with dry fruits and banana. Enjoy as desired.


          

Banana Dry Fruits Muffins

          Craving for something sweet yet healthy? Then this is for you. An easy to prepare evening tea-time snack, these yummy muffins are loaded with dry fruits, banana and other basic ingredients. So if you have any over ripe bananas leftover, go ahead and give it a try. Enjoy a fun filled evening sipping your favorite bru and relishing these baked beauties with family and loved ones. It is a best treat for kids and for a kitty party too. 

• 2 bananas, chopped
• 3 tbsp. milk
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 2-3 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder
• 1 & 1/2 cups plain flour (maida)
• 1/3 cup sugar or to taste
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 cup chopped dry fruits (cranberries, walnuts, dates, apricots, melon seeds, raisins, tutti frutti)

          Blend the bananas, milk, oil, rose water, coconut and eggs. Keep aside. 

          Sift together flour, sugar, salt, cardamom powder, baking powder and baking soda.

          Now mix all together into a smooth batter.

          Mix the dry fruits and 1 tsp. flour. Add it to the prepared batter and combine well.

          Line a muffin tray with muffin lines and drop spoonful of the batter into it.

          Bake in a preheated oven for 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees C. 

          Cool on a wire rack and serve as desired or as a tea-time snack. 

Sugar Free Whole Wheat Banana-Dates Loaf Cake

          I would like to dedicate this cake to all those who are looking for something healthy and that which can be relished guilt free. So here you are. This yummy cake is prepared with whole wheat flour and sweetened with banana and dates. 

          An absolute baked delicacy for the weight watchers too. Enjoy it as a tea-time snack, as an after-meal dessert or whenever desired. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it. 

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (atta)
• 1 tsp. baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda 
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom powder 
• pinch of salt
• 2 banana, peeled & cut into pieces 
• 10 dates, deseeded & soaked in warm water for 30 minutes
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 tsp. rose water
• 2 tbsp. raisins & chopped pistachios

          Blend the banana, dates, oil and rose water in a mixer to a fine paste. Keep aside. Pass all the dry ingredients through a sieve and add the raisins and pistachios.

          To it add the banana-dates paste and mix until well incorporated. Now transfer to a greased cake tin and bake for 40-45 minutes at 180 degrees C. in a preheated oven. 

           Check if it is done by inserting a toothpick. Allow it to cool on a wire rack before cutting. Serve warm or at room temperature. 

                               Pass all the dry ingredients through a sieve. 

                               Add the raisins and pistachios. 

                               To it add banana-dates paste & mix until well incorporated.

                    Transfer to a greased cake tin & bake for 40-45 minutes at 180 degrees 
                    C. in a preheated oven. 

                               Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Banana Plum Ice Cream

          Summer is here. So thinking of making a healthy Fruit Ice Cream? Let me share Banana and Plum Ice Cream that is super delicious. It is very easy and simple to make. Needs no rocket science. Enjoy them as an after meal dessert in any in-house party or anytime of the day. So go ahead and give it a try and enjoy this homemade chilled delight with your loved ones.

• 1 banana, chopped & frozen
• 2 plums, pureed
• 2-3 tbsp. sugar or to taste
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2-3 tbsp. milk powder
• pinch of cardamom powder
• 1 tsp. kewra water

          Simmer the plums and the sugar till it is almost reduced. Set aside to cool. Then blend all the other ingredients. 

          Transfer to an air-tight container and freeze for 1-2 hours. Then mix with a spoon and freeze again for another 1-2 hours. 

          Mix again and do this 2-3 times. Finally freeze for a minimum of 7-8 hours or overnight. Serve in individual bowls and enjoy this delectable fruity ice cream chilled.

Raw Banana Bharta (Mashed Raw Banana Curry)

         You must have had baingan bharta (mashed eggplant), which is a very popular dish on a Punjabi platter. How about trying out Raw Banana Bharta? It is equally yummy and tastes awesome. It goes very well with chapatti in particular. However, it can be served as a side dish with rice too. 

• 3-4 raw bananas, boiled whole
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• pinch of asafoetida
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp. garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp. ginger, grated
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. lime juice 
• 2 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped

          Discard the skin from the boiled banana and mash it. Keep aside. Heat oil in a pan and temper with cumin seeds. 

          Sauté for a few seconds and add the asafoetida, followed by the onion, ginger and garlic. Stir fry till light brown. 

          Now add the mashed raw banana and all the dry spices. Mix everything well and stir fry on a medium flame for 2-3 minutes.

          When done, add the lime juice and coriander leaves. Give it a stir and serve as a side dish with either rice or chapattis.

Paka Kola'r Bora (Ripe Banana Pakoras / Fritters - Bengali Style)

          'Paka' means ripe, 'Kola' means Banana and 'Bora' means Pakoras / Fritters. So make these simple and yummy pakoras / fritters out of any over-ripe bananas and enjoy just as it is, as an evening tea-time snack or as an after-meal dessert. Do not forget to drizzle some rabri over it and a sprinkle of chopped pistachios. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this amazing Bengali delicacy.

• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 3-4 tbsp. rice flour
• 1-2 tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. fennel powder
• 2 tbsp. fresh grated coconut
• oil to deep fry

          In a bowl, mix together all the above mentioned ingredients (except oil). Heat oil in a pan and drop spoonful in it few at a time.

          Fry on a low flame till light golden in colour. Drain on a tissue paper and enjoy just as it, as a tea-time snack or as an after-meal dessert (drizzled with some rabdi / thickened milk).

                                Mix together all mentioned ingredients (except oil). 

                  

                                  Heat oil & drop spoonful in it few at a time.

                                  Fry on a low flame till light golden in colour. 

                                  Drain on a tissue paper. 

                                Enjoy just as it, as a tea-time snack or .....

                      ...... as an after-meal dessert (drizzled with some rabdi / thickened milk).