“Harve Kele- Piyava Upkari (Raw Banana- Onion Bhaji)” … Amma always insisted on a simple veggie side dish to be always included in meals … here is a simple upkari/ bhaji prepared with raw banana the variety used in cooking … tastes best served with dal- chawal along with any other dishes … Yummilicious …
** I have often written about the importance of including a simple veggie upkari/ bhaji as a side dish during each meal for health benefits. Ours was a large family and Amma always prepared one veggie upkari as side dish along with one masala curry along with dalitoy- rice for meals and I have just followed here pattern. I completely endorse the fact and if I prepare biryani or pulav for meals or say egg curry/ chicken curry etc. then I make it a point to replace the upkari with salad or raita, these small inclusions not only make the meal healthier but they definitely build a lifelong of good eating habits.
** I must confess here that though I prepare harve kele talasani/ upkari (raw banana bhaji) either with hing (asafeotida) tempering or garlic, I have never attempted at preparing upkari/ bhaji with addition of onions. I am not sure why? Maybe I just followed Amma on this one and never thought otherwise of any other mix and matches. Recently I had a Thali Meal in restaurant and it was there that I savored this bhaji. Well, I decided then and there that my next upkari/ bhaji of raw bananas would be with addition of onions and here it is all done and tasting absolutely delicious, do try this one out.
** Here is my recipe for “Harve Kele- Piyava Upkari (Raw Banana- Onion Bhaji)” … my style, do try it, tastes fantastic …
** Ingredients :
Raw Banana/ Harve Kele/ Kacha Kela : 2 large sized cooking variety
Onion/ Piyavu/ Kanda/ Erulli : 2 large sized
Salt/ Namak/ Meeta/ Uppu : to taste
** For Tempering/ Pannaka/ Tadka :
Coconut Oil/ Nariyal Tel/ Narlel Tela : 2 tblsp
Mustard Seeds/ Rai/ Sasam : 1 tsp
Jeera/ Cumin Seeds : ½ tsp
Methi/ Fenugreek Seeds : ¼ tsp
Curry Leaves/ Kaidpatta/ Karbevu : 8-10 fresh ones
Hing/ Asafoetida Powder : ½ to 1 tsp
Haldi/ Turmeric Powder : ¼ tsp
Dry Red Chilly/ Sukki Mirsanga/ Sookhi Mirchi/ Menasu : 3-4
** Slice off the outer skin of large sized cooking raw banana/ harve kele as thinly as possible and then cut them into thin julienne of about 2.5 to 3 inch in length. Soak it in plenty of water and keep it aside (to avoid discoloration).
** Remove the outer skin of large sized onion/ piyavu and slice it lengthwise as thinly as possible. Separate it ie looses it well and keep it aside, this helps in faster cooking as we do not want to overcook it (important step).
** Heat coconut oil in a thick bottomed pan/ kadai, when hot add mustard seeds when they begin to crackle add jeera, methi seeds, fresh curry leaves and fry for few seconds. Add sliced onion, a pinch of salt and fry just for 2 minutes only. Do not fry onions more or let them brown, we just want them softened.
** Now add haldi powder, hing powder along red chillies crushed to small pieces, mix well and continue to fry for another minute or two. Now drain and add the raw banana julienne, salt to taste, mix well, sprinkle some water, cover and cook on low heat stirring often until done. Sprinkle water in between if desired.
** “Harve Kele- Piyava Upkari (Raw Banana- Onion Bhaji)” is done and ready to be served. Tastes best served as a side dish with dalitoy- rice though you can serve it with any dishes of your choice during lunchtime. A simple- healthy upkari/ bhaji that can be easily prepared, do give it a try and enjoy your meals. Do try including a bhaji for the benefit of your family. My Amma always insisted on including a veggie bhaji during very meals and I carry on her advice studiously unless inevitable. The health benefits may not be visible immediately but in the long run it's sure to be so.
** For more choice of “Upkari/ Bhaji” recipes shared in the Blog, please browse through the common link shared below ….
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Thanks.