Banana Stem Chutney

Banana stem is one of the healthy stem that can be used in our dishes. In olden days people make sure, that they prepare some dish using banana stem at least once in a month. It is one of the traditional dish and signature dish of Udupi food.

South Canara and Malanadu area bananas are grown even at homes. At least one or two banana plants do grow and the leaves are used for eating food and when banana is grown and it is cut after ripe/unripe the stem is used in cooking. The flowers also will be used as dry curry /majjige huli./chutney and even leha. ( The Home prepared medicine cum energetic dish done to give for lady after the child is born.
This banana stem is given by our neighbour and I did prepared some dal , chutney, kosumbari etc.
I have used banana stem, little roasted urid dal, red chilly and coconut.
Let us see some benefits of eating Banana Stem.
It is said that every part of banana is packed with nutrition and health benefits. Banana stem helps to detoxify our body. It helps to flushing out toxins from our body. It cleanses our body system and helps in digestion. It is full of fiber and good for healthy bowel movement. It also helps in removing the kidney stones. Drinking banana stem juice helps to prevent the formation of kidney stones. It regulates the cholesterol and blood pressure in our body. Banana stem is rich in Vitamin B6, good amount of iron and helps to improve the haemoglobin count. It has good source of potassium. It helps in regulating acidity levels in our body. Drinking banana stem juice ( add lemon also), provides relief from heartburn and discomfort in our tummy.

No Onion or No Garlic is used in this " Banana Stem Chutney".
It is an easy, simple and healthy chutney goes well with almost all main dishes.
Let us see the reciep now :

Things Needed :

To fry :
Coconut/any brand cooking oil : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1 Tablespoon
Pepper pods : 4 to 5
Methi seeds : 1/4 Tsp
Red chilly (Byadagi chilly) : 5 to 6
Curry leaves : 1 Handful
Ingh : A little
To grind : 
Coconut : 1 Cup
Tamarind : 1/2 of one marble size
Cut banana stem pieces : 1 Bowl
Salt : As required
Fried Ingredients.
To Season :
Mustard seeds : 1/2 Teaspoon
Urid dal : 1/2 Teaspoon
Curry Leaves : 5 to 6
Ingh : A little.

Method :

1. Wash and remove the inner part of the stem.
2. Cut it as circle and remove the thread form of fiber. ( Roll on the thread around the finger).

3. Cut the circle pieces of banana stem into small pieces after that.
4. Put it in a big bowl of water and let it be there till you grind.

5. Grate coconut and keep it aside
6. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add oil and urid dal, methi seeds and pepper pods. Fry till they turn golden brown.
7. Add red chilly and fry for a minute. ( On low flame).

8. Add curry leaves and ingh and put off the fire.
9. Put it in a big bowl or tray, so that the fried ingredients cool down.

10. Take a mixi jar and put cooled fried urid dal mixture,
11. Add grated coconut, cut banana stem pieces and add little salt , tamarind and grind it with very little water.

12. Grind till all the ingredients mixes well and your desired consistency. ( Some like it smooth and others bit coarse)

12. Shift the chutney to a serving dish.

 13.  Add mustard seeds, ingh, curry leaves seasoning and mix it well.
14.  Banana Stem Chutney is ready to serve.

13. Serve with a main dish you have prepared.
14. We normally have this Banana Stem Chutney with Plain Rice and little ghee /coconut oil.

Note :

No need to cook the pieces. Just grind it along with coconut. You can soak banana stem pieces in butter milk also. (Optional). Adding more/less chilly is optional. It taste better if it is bit spicy. Take care of urid dal while frying/roasting. It should not get burnt or raw. Use of onions or garlic optional. Taste may differ.
Time : 10 Minutes.
Serves : 3 to 4.

Wheat - Rava Sweet Dosa

Wheat -Rava Sweet Dosa is a healthy dosa, It can be prepared for breakfast or as evening snack. It is easy to prepare. Just a twist and quick dish that can serve a purpose in a healthy way.
I Have used Wheat (Ashrivad) - Rava (Semolina ), Banana and a little jaggery.

Lets see some benefits of eating jaggery in our diet.
Jaggery is a rich source of iron and eating jaggery helps in healthy manner. It is filled with carbohydrates and provide energy in a quick manner to our body. You must have seen that people drink plain water with piece/little jaggery and water. It not only cools our body, it does provide energy quickly. It is good for people who suffer from anemia and constipation. It cleanses our liver, Eating jaggery helps to increase immunity. It is said that jaggery releases the happy hormones and helps moody people. (Changes the mood). It helps to relax the body and makes one feel good.
Lets see the recipe Now :

Things Needed :

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Rava/Semolina : 1 Cup
Bananas : 2 (Elakki)
Milk : 1/2 Cup (Boiled milk)
Jaggery : 2 To 3 Tablespoons
Salt : A pinch
Coconut : 2 Tablespoons
Ghee Or Oil : As required

Method :

1. Take a big bowl and add wheat flour, rava, salt and mix it well.
2. Mash banana, jaggery. with milk and put it to the wheat mixture. Mix it well.

3. Add water and prepare dough. It should be bit thicker than dosa dough.
4. Let all the ingredients mix it well.  Leave it for 5 minutes. Add coconut
5. Keep a pan on the fire and heat. Add little oil on the tava/Dosa pan.

6. Clean it with a tissure/clean towel or with spatula . (mogache kai - Tool to remove dosa).
7. Take a ladleful of wheat banana dosa mixture and put it on the hot tava. Spread it slowly.

8. Sprinkle oil on the top of dosa. Cover and cook for a minute.
9. Turn the other side and cook for  10 seconds.

10. Wheat -Rava  sweet dosa is ready to serve. Serve with ghee and pickle or any side dish you have prepared.

Note :

Mix all the ingredients well. Add required water. No need to add any cooking soda or bakeing powder. Spread it slowly and let the flame be low while spreading the dough. (or it might stick to the spoon you are using).  Use of oil or ghee is optional. Adding coconut is optional. Do not spread it much. It might tare...
Time : 30 Minutes
Serves : 3 to 4  

Banana - Jaggery Wheat Poori

Banana Jaggery Poori is a fried dish and you can have them for breakfast and as snack. 

Mangalore buns world famous and is normally prepared using maida (All purpose flour) and sugar with cooking soda.
Lets see some benefits of using coconut oil in our diet.
Coconut oil is loaded with health benefits. It is good for digestion and immunity against infections and diseases. It is good for skin care, hair care and prevents diseases like premature aging because of it antioxidant properties. It also helps to treat dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections
It helps to prevent wrinkles, dragging skin and skin dryness. It helps to reduce the protein loss in the hair and nourishes the hair. Coconut oil helps to improve the bone health. Strengthen the immune system. It is also good for healing damaged tissues and infections.
Here I have used wheat flour instead of maida and used jaggery/joni bella as we call it. You don't need to keep the dough for resting. You can prepare the poories as soon as you prepare the dough.
These sweet poories are good to take it for outings, for kids snack box and even kids parties.

Things Needed : 

Wheat flour : 2 Cups
Ghee : 1 Teaspoon
Bananas : 2 to 3
Jaggery : 2 to 3 Tablespoons
Cooking Soda/Bicarbonate soda : A pinch
Curd/Yogurt : 1 Tablespoon
Salt : A pinch
Oil : To fry. : 1 Cup

Method :

1. Smash banana nicely. Add jaggery and curd. Mix all the ingredients nicely.
2. Now add wheat flour,salt and a teaspoon of ghee. Mix it nicely.

3. Add cooking soda to the dough and mix it well. Divide the dough into small portion.
4. Keep oil for frying. Let it heat.
5. Roll or pat the small portion on your pal. ( As small poories)

6. Fry them one by one on both side (Medium heat).
7. Remove it from oil and put them on the kitchen towel. (Let all the extra oil absorb by tissue).

8. Repeat the same with remaining dough.

9. Serve with a cup of coffee or tea.

Note : 

Do not add any water to the dough. The dough should be thick. Add little more wheat flour if the dough turns soft and saggy. Apply little oil to the palm and pat the dough on the palm. Adding more jaggery is optional. You can powder jaggery and then mix it with banana and curd to turn soft and nice mixture. Use of any cooking oil is optional. (Coconut, sunflower, groundnuts etc).
Time : 30 Minutes.
20 Small pooris can be prepared. (According to the size). 

Nendra Bale - Walnuts Halva

Nendra Bale is one variety of banana mostly eaten in Southa Canara and Kerala. I have prepared Halva using Nendra bale/Banana.  This variety of banana is full of carbohydrates and healthy properties. Halva prepared using this banana tastes excellent and keeps you hog the halva again and again.
I have used Walnuts, cashew nuts, jaggery and Nendra bale. I have used jaggery instead of Sugar which is a healthy concept.

Lets see some benefits of eating Walnuts in our diet.
Walnuts originated in the Mediterraneat regin and Cental Asia. They have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. They are rich in Omega 3 fats
Walnuts are rich in Omega 3 fats and high in antioxidants. Eating walnuts everyday may improve brain health. They are rich in copper, Phosporus, Manganese Folic acid which is also known as Vitamin B 9, Vitamin B 6 and Vitamin E. They help to lower the bad cholesterol and reduce the inflammation. They also help in functioning of the blood vessels well.
Let us see the recipe now.

Things Needed :

Nendra Bale (Nendra Bananas) : 2
Jaggery : 3/4 Cup
Walnuts : 6 to 8 pieces
Cardamom : 3 to 4 Pods
Chenna/Hurikadale : 1/2 Cup
Milk Powder : 2 Tablespoons (Optional)
Ghee : 3 to 4 Tablespoons

Method :

1. Powder or cut walnuts into small pieces. Powder hurikadale/Chenna with cardamom pods.

2. Steam cook nendra bale and let it be soft (3 to 4 minutes). Remove the outer layer once it is cooled.

3. Now mix cooked nendra bale, jaggery and keep it on low flame. (Powder jaggery before mixing with fruit).

4. Keep stirring until it mixes well. Now add ground chenna/hurikadale and mix it well.
5. Add a tablespoon of ghee and mix it. Add milk powder and mix it well. Add powdered or cut nuts.

6. Keep stirring till it leaves the pan. Stir nicely for another 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Apply ghee to a plate/ tray.

8. Stir once again and put it to a ghee applied plate. Make it evenly by using a chapati roller. Let it cool. Spread some cut cashew nuts on the top. 

9. Cut Nendra Banana Halva once it is cooled. Cut it according to your wish.

10. Serve or store in a airtight bottle or container.

Note :

You can grind banana as they are and then mix it with jaggery. Steaming helps the banana to be thicken quickly. No need to use more ghee. Adding little more jaggery is optional. Adding milk powder is also optional. Adding chenna/hurikadale/pottu kadale helps to give a good binding to halva.
Time : 4o to 50 Minutes
Serves : 20 to 30 pieces (According to the size).