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.

Side dish with Onion

Dry Side Dish with Onion (ഉള്ളി തോരൻ)

It is difficult to imagine a dish that doesn't contain onion. We typically use onion to enhance the taste of a variety of dishes. However not many people know that we can make a side dish with the onion (big onions - സവാള) alone. In today's recipe let's see how to make a delicious and easy to make dish with onions.

Ingredients (this will serve approximately 5 people):

1) Onion                          250 gm cut thin and length wise

2) Green chilly (6)          Chopped well
    Fresh coconut             1/2 medium-sized, grated
    Salt                             As needed
    Ginger                        Small piece, chopped well

3) Coconut oil                1½  tsp

4) mustard seeds            1 tsp

5) curry leaves               1 spring

Method of preparation:

1) Chop the onions and mix it with ingredients listed under 2. (Green chilly, grated coconut, salt and ginger).

2) Heat oil in a pan and sprinkle in mustard seeds.When they start sputtering add curry leaves stir well. Add  the above mixture in to it, stir well, add about 1 tbsp water. Close the pan with one lid. Keep the flame high till the onions are half cooked (i.e, until steam comes out). Keep the flame low till it cooked well.