Nendra baale Sheera/Kesari Baath

Nendra Baale /Nendra Bananan is a type of Banana, and is fiber rich, filled with Vitamins, Minerals and other healthy sources. I have tried Sheera /Kesari Baath using this Nendra Banana.

We from Dakshina Kannada make use of this banana. We do eat this banana, when it is fully ripen, steamed Nendra Bale is good for health. Preparing varieties of dishes like payasa/kheer, dosa and jamoon, just shallow fry in ghee. The ghee fried Nendra banana is good for kids and the people who suffer from anemia. It is full of energy and provides vitamins and minerals.
I have already tried shallow fried bananas, mild spicy dosa, jamoon and now this time it is used in Sheera/Kesari baath. Kesari baath is well known dish for every one in India. Some call it as Sheera.

Let us see some benefits of eating Nendra Banana in our diet.

Nendra banana is provides energy and people do steam and have it for their breakfast. It is also given to small children with honey or sugar.
Nendra Banana is full of vitamins and minerals as I said earlier. It is a rich source of Vitamin C, potassium and other vitamins and minerals. They do help to maintain good health. The fruit's sweetness is balanced with fiber and helps to maintain healthy blood glucose level.
I have used medium sized Rava/Rave/ Semolina / Sooji, sugar, ghee, 1 Nendra Banana, cardamom and dry fruits like cashews, raisins and Saffron.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Ingredients :

Rava /Sooji /Semolina :  1 1/2 Cups
Sugar : 1 1/2  Cups
Ghee : 3/4 Cup
Nendra Banana : 1 Big size
Cashews : 2 Tbs
Raisins : 2 to 3 Tbs
Cardamom : 5 to 6 pods
Saffron : 5 to 6 Rakes
Boiling Water : 3 Cups

Method :

1. Powder Cardamom and keep it aside. Peel off Nendra banana skin and cut into circle shape.
2. Keep a pan on the fire and put 2 to 3 tbs of ghee to it. Let it melt.
3. Add cashews and raisins and fry till the raisins get fluffy.

4   Fry Nendra banana pieces in ghee separately and keep it aside.
5. Add rava and fry till the raw smell disappear.

6.. Now add fried bananas and mix rava nicely.

7. Add boiling water and mix it slowly. Keep the flame very low while you pour boiling water.
8. Stir continuously till it turns thick.

9.  Once Rava gets thick, add sugar and mix it slowly. It turns as liquid.
10. Stir slowly and increase the flame to medium.

11. Sheera gets thick. Stir and add powdered cardamom, saffron flakes and remained ghee.

12. Stir slowly and leave it for a minute. Shift the ready Sheera/Kesari baath to a serving dish. We had this sheera with Coconut Uppittu.

Note :
Fry on low flame to get good texture. Fry rava till the raw smell disappear. Adding more ghee to kesari is optional. Adding kesari colour instead of saffron is optional. Fry Nendra bale nicely in a tsp of ghee before you add it to rava.
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 4 to 5 .

Dates - Nendra Bale Halva

Dates - Nendra Bale Halva is a sweet dish. It is prepared using Nendra bale and dates with some dry fruits. It is soft and delicious sweet which you really relish it with your calm mind.

I have used Dates, Nendra bale and elakki banana with raisins, a few cashews and jaggery. I have also used poppy seeds on the top and it gives a yummy taste and you really enjoy having them.
Let us see some benefits of eating Poppy Seeds in our diet.
Poppy seeds are good content of calcium and magnesium. Calcium helps our bones and teeth to be strong and it helps the nerve and muscle function well. Magnesium helps in providing energy to the body. Poppy seeds have good source of anti -inflammatory properties. It helps to treat sleep disorder/insomnia. It is a good source of dietary fiber, minerals like calcium, magnesium andiron, vitamins and omega 6 fatty acids. Poppy seeds are used in Ayurvedic medicines. It is said to be a great pain reliever. It improves immunity in our body. It helps to improve digestion and prevent kidney stones. It is also used in cosmetics.
Let us see the recipe Now :

Things Needed : 

Nendra banana /Nendra balehannu : 2
Yalakki Banana : 2
Corn flakes : 1 Bowl ( Medium sized bowl)
Jaggery : 1 Cup
Almonds : 10 to 12
Raisins : 1 Handful
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons. / Little more than 1/2 cup
Dates :  250 Grams
Chiroti Rava /Thin variety of rava : 3 Tablespoons
Poppy Seeds/ Gasagase : 2 Tablespoons

Method : 

1. Remove the seeds from dates and remove the outer layer of bananas.

2. Dry grind almonds /cut almonds into thin slices.
3. Grind dates and bananas together and remove it from the mixi jar.

4. Dry grind cornflakes and keep it aside.

5. Keep a pan on the fire and add jaggery. Add an half cup of water and let it melt completely.
6. Remove it from the pan and sieve it with a siever and keep the clean jaggery aside.
7. Keep a big pan on the fire and put cleaned jaggery and ground banana -dates mixture. Add powdered corn flakes. Mix all the ingredients well.

 8. Stir nicely and let it cook on low flame. Add ghee in between and keep stirring the mixture.

 9. Slowly the mixture starts to thicken and it starts to leave the pan. Add ghee and stir nicely.
 10.  Add small size rava/semolina and stir for 3 to 4 minutes. See that rava mixes well with halva.

11. Let the flame be slow and medium. It changes its colour and starts to leave the ghee.
12. Apply little ghee on a plate /tray and keep it ready. Add raisins and powdered almonds.
 13. Put the ready Dates - Nendra Banana to the ghee greased plate and spread it evenly with a help of spoon.

 14. Let it cool completely. Add poppy seeds on the top. Press a little on the top.

 15. Cut Dates - Nendra Bale halva , according to your wish. ( Small / Big/diamond shape or a round shape.

16. Serve them once it is cooled completely.  

 Note.

Halva is soft and delicious. Adding more nuts is optional. Adding more jaggery is optional. Do not add much semolina though it helps to thicken fast, it taste differ. Adding more ghee is optional.
Time : 30 to 35 Minutes.
Serves : 25 to 30 Small sizes. 

Nendra bale Dosa ( Nendra Banana Dosa ).

Nendra  Baale /Nendra banana is a type of banana which is full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.  This Nendra banana is largely used in South Canara and Kerala.
Nendra bale Dosa is good to have for breakfast and  snack.

 I have used wheat flour, jaggery, rasam powder and salt.
We normally use Patrode batter to prepare this dosa. But I have used wheat flour and no need of grinding any thing. Minimum ingredients are used which is easily available in the kitchen shelves.
Let us see the recipe now :

Ingredients :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Nendra Bale/Nendra Banana : 2
Rasam Powder : 2 Teaspoons full
Jaggery : 3 to 4 Tablespoons
Salt : As required
Oil/ghee /butter : 2 to 3 Tablespoons.

 Method :

1. Wash and remove the skin of Nendra Banana. Cut them as thin circle shape.

2. Put wheat flour, powdered jaggery, rasam powder and salt. Mix it with required water and prepare the batter. (Dosa batter Consistency).

3. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Sprinkle oil on hot tava. ( Keep the flame low now)
4. Dip banana slice in wheat batter and arrange it in circle form.

5. Put some oil on the top, cover and cook. (Low and medium flame).

6.  Turn the other side and cook till it turns golden brown.

7. Now Nendra Bale dideer dosa is read y to serve.
8.Serve hot Nendra Bale dosa with little ghee/butter on the top.

9. Repeat the same with remaining dosa batter and banana slices.

Note : 

The batter should be dosa batter consistency. The banana slices should be thin. Use of any brand rasam powder is optional. Do not use any onion or garlic in the batter. Jaggery quantity more/less is optional.
Time : 30 Minutes.
Serves : 2 to 3.

Chiku - Nendra Banana- Dates Milk Shake

The summer is usually hot and we need to take care of our body and mind from screeching hot. One should drink sufficient water to escape from dehydration. We can also have some fruit juice, milkshake, fresh cool drinks like tender coconut, jeera water or butte milk, eat mild food. etc.

Here is a Chiku/Sapota, Nendra Banana and a few soft dates and  fresh milk.

I have used above said ingredients and very little honey to add sweet.

Let us see some benefits of having Chiku/Sapota fruit in our diet.

Chiku / Sapota is rich in Vitamin A and C. Vitamin A is helps to take care of eye health and Vitamin C helps to keep us strong, take care of our skin in good condition and prevents heart disorders etc. Chiku/ Sapota helps as energy booster. It is rich in tannin. A good natural anti-inflammation curer. It is rich in fiber and good for easy digestion and good for people who suffer from irritable bowel syndrom. It helps to ease constipation problems. The fruit is good for pregnant women and good and helps to build strong bones. Sapota is good for our skin and hair also.

Instead of sugar I have added dates and honey.

Things Needed :

Chikku/Sapota : 2 to 3 (Medium sized)
Nendra Banana /Nendra bale : 1
Fresh boiled and cooled milk : 2 cups/Glasses
Cashew nuts : 2 to 3
Dates : 6 to 8
Honey : 1 Tablespoon

Method :

1. Remove pods from dates and cut into small pieces.
2. Remove banana skin and cut the fruit into small pieces.
3. Remove the outer layer of chiku fruits and remove the pods.

4. Now put all the ingredients to a mixi jar. Add a cup of milk and grind it into nice paste consistency.

5. Add another cup of milk and churn for a minute.
6. Put the ready milk shake to a bowl.

7. Add a tablespoon of honey and mix it well.

8. Put to the serving glass and serve.

9. Adding ice cubes just before serving is purely optional. (I have not added).

Note : 

Adding more water /milk to dilute the milk shake is optional. If you do add little more honey. Adding jaggery /sugar instead of honey and dates is optional. Adding more chiku fruits is optional.
Time : 10 Minutes 
Serves : 2 to 3 .