“Tava Fried Pikkile Nendrabale kele Podi (Ripe Banana Fries)” … these delicious podi's/ fries from GSB Konkani Saraswat Cuisine are prepared from Nendrabale Kele a famous Banana from Southern parts of India available all round the world ... while there are plenty of dishes that can be prepared with these bananas, podi/ bajo is the most sought after one ... tastes best served as it is or during meals along with other dishes ... try it, tastes awesome ... Yummilicious ....
** Nendrabale Kele is a foot long sized thick banana that is by and large grown in southern parts of India. The same is used both in raw and ripe form in various dishes. We Amchies / Konkani Saraswats are a huge fans of this one and use it extensively in our cuisine. Both curries, upkari, fries and sweets etc. prepared using the same. Over ripe bananas are used in preparing a Halwa that is thick and cut into squares and is worldwide famous for its unique taste and texture. Again chips/ wafers are prepared using raw bananas of same variety and are also famous round the globe.
** These bananas are also cut into 2 inch pieces and steamed to be served to both young children are aged for constipation issues. Steamed and served hot topped with a little bit of ghee is all time solution down generations for all stomach related issues. Amma always prepared steamed bananas for evening snack when we came home hungry. Sometimes it was also served during breakfast along with upma, usli etc. which is an age old combo breakfast in GSB community, I have shared them all often and will do more so as and when I prepare them, do browse through.
** These are tava fried podi’s/ fries while the same can be deep fried, air fried, baked or microwaved too. However, tava fried with a little bit oil tastes great and is far much better to the deep fried one’s though tasty are not for health conscious people. Either way, I will share the same too so just follow me on my Blog, Page or Instagram to be on regular touch with my recipes. It would be lovely if you could give me a feedback if possible, it helps be stay in connect and also encourages me to do more.
** Here is my simple recipe for “Tava Fried Pikkile Nendrabale kele Podi (Ripe Banana Fries)” … my style ….
** Ingredients :
Ripe Nendrabale Bananas : 1-2 large sized
Red Chilly Powder/ Mirsange Pitti/ Laal Mirchi Powder : 1- 2 tsp
Asafoetida / Hing Powder: 1/2 to 1 tsp
Salt/ Namak/ Meeta : to taste
** For Dusting/ Rolling before frying :
Rice Powder/ Tadla Pitti/ Akki Hittu : 4 tblsp
Fine Rava/ Chiroti Rava : 1 tblsp
Red Chilly Powder/ Mirsange Pitti/ Laal Mirchi Powder : ½ tsp
Salt/ Namak/ Meetha : a pinch
** Oil/ Tel/ Tela : for tava frying.
** Wash, wipe dry and cut the Ripe Nendrabale Bananas into three pieces horizontally and then into three pieces vertically. In all you will get around 9 rectangular sized pieces of one banana. This is usually the way it is cut, but you can cut them anyway you wish, like circular rings also. I have used only one banana here.
** Note : These bananas are large in size almost a foot long and 2 inch thick in diameter. But sometimes the sizes vary. The thickness may be lesser in which case cut them only into two pieces vertically, lest it become thinner slices and turn out soggy. Please use your judgement for cutting of the banana pieces.
** In a bowl make a mixture of of less spicy red chilly powder (mirsange piti/ mirchi tikkat), hing (asafoetida) powder, salt (namak/ meeta) to taste and mix evenly. Remove the outer skin of the cut banana pieces and put them in a bowl. Add the prepared mix of chilly, hing, salt little by little while applying it all over the banana pieces and mix well. Keep this covered aside for an hour or so. If you need to prepare this later on than the stipulated time, put it in the fridge and then prepare the same.
** For Dusting/ Rolling before frying : Mix all the ingredients ie rice powder, fine rava, red chilly powder, salt and toss well to be evenly combined. You can prepare this in larger quantity say about 200 gms in all and store it in an airtight bottle in fridge and use as and when desired in preparation of podi type of dishes.
** Heat a thick bottomed iron tava or non stick Teflon one (any you prefer). When hot add about 1-2 tbslp of oil (tel/ tela) (depending upon size of your tava) and spread it evenly. Now place each dusted banana piece gently on the tava maintaining ½ inch distance between each other. Fry on high heat for 2 minutes only and then lower the heat to minimum and continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes.
** Unlike raw banana ripe one’s get fried faster so be careful. If you find that there is not trace of oil on the tava, then you may apply a little bit oil on the top side of each banana piece. After which gently loosen each with the help of tongs/ spatula and flip over to cook on the other side too. Be careful with oil and do not add excess otherwise the fries will turn out oily which is neither tasty or good for health.
** When done remove and place over an absorbent paper for the excess oil if any to be drained off. Continue with the remaining banana pieces by dusting and then tava frying them in similar manner while keeping the tava temperature constant. In case you do not want to add much of oil, then you may just brush the tava with a layer of the same and then sprinkle some water on the banana pieces too.
** “Tava Fried Pikkile Nendrabale kele Podi (Ripe Banana Fries)” are done and ready to be served. Tastes best served immediately fresh and hot as a snack or during meals. In GSB community these podi’s are usually served during lunch or dinner as an accompaniment with other dishes especially festive season or on holy days while bajos / bajias prepared out of the same are served as snack, however they are usually deep fried when the quantity required is more, tava fried podi is easier for nuclear family. Children are very fond of these ripe banana podi’s and enjoy them as a snack, do try them out on holidays and enjoy them with your lunch or dinner, sure to be loved by all.
** For more recipes on “Nendrabale Kele/ Banana” and other varieties of "Podi/ Bajo", please go through the links given below wherein you will find more dishes prepared using them, among which are the famous podi, bajo, wafers and halwa too, do try them out, relish and enjoy with your family and friends ….
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