Unnakkai - an evening snack made out of ripe banana

Unnakkai (ഉന്നക്കായ്) - An evening snack made out of ripe banana

This week, let me give you the recipe of a delicious evening snack from North Kerala. This one is widely used as special item during the Ramadan by the Muslims in Thalasseri and Kannur regions. It is believed to be originated in North Malabar. This snack is called Unnakkai (ഉന്നക്കായ് ) in North Kerala and is made out of ripe banana (Nenthran varity) and coconut.  It very special for the sweet taste. It is also a very healthy snack for the kids, in case they are reluctant to eat the steamed bananas.

Ingredients:

Ripe Banana (Nenthran variety)        4 no
Coconut (grated)      1/4 cup
Cashew nut               6 nos, cut into small pieces
Raisins                      6nos, cut into small pieces
Sugar                         as needed
Cardamom powder   a pinch
Ghee                         2 tbsp
Oil                            as needed (to fry)

Method of preparation

1. Steam the Bananas till it become soft.  
2. Let it cool for some time. When it is slightly warm, peel the skin out and mash it with hands. It would be a good idea to remove black portion in the center of the bananas.
3. Heat ghee and fry the cashews and raisins in ghee.
4. To this add grated coconut and stir well for some time.
5. Add sugar and turn off the flame when the mixture turns golden brown. sprinkle cardamom powder on top of this mixture. Your filling is ready.
6. Make lemon sized balls out of the mashed banana.
7. Make each ball into an oval shape by rolling it in your palm.
8. Make a long dip in the oval with your fingers and fill it with a heaped teaspoon of filling. Roll it again in your palm so that the filling is covered by the mashed banana. Repeat this process with the remaining banana mixture.
9. Heat oil. Put the 'unnakkai' into the hot oil and fry them with medium flame. Keep them on flame until the unnakkai turns golden brown in color.

Note:
If you are preparing for kids, then we can use ghee instead of oil to fry the unnakkai. Of course unnakkai fried in ghee is tastier compared to the ones fried in the oil.So if you are not worried about the cholesterol factor, you can go with ghee.