Raw banana/valakkai is a kind of vegetable which can be included and made into many dishes like Avial,poriyal,milk

curries, salads,chips,kofta,sambhar….and the list will go on.

Today’s recipes have coconut as the main ingredient, but included and spiced in different methods.

One weekend we got Kerala meals, and there I saw this humble coconut spiced called the ‘Chammanthi’.(Kerala dish)

at the corner of the leaf, but the tastiest.

It was similar to the Srilankan ‘Pol sambol’which is my favourite.Sri Lankan symbol is of 2 varieties one with red chillies

POL SAMBOL (COCONUT SAMBOL)and the other with turmeric and green chillies with other ingredients (yet to post).

First I will give you the recipe for ..

CHAMANTHI VALAKKAI

2 raw bananas peeled, cut into cubes and boiled with a little salt and turmeric

2 tsp coconut oil

few mustard seeds

few curry leaves

For the chamanthi (coconut sambol)

1/2 coconut scrapings

4-5 small onions

3-4 green chillies

1/4 tsp pepper

juice of 1 lime

salt to taste

METHOD

Cook the cut banana with a little turmeric and salt till soft and remove from fire.

Make the coconut sambol by coarsely grinding the green chillies and onions (if you have a pound and pestle it will be still fine).

Add the coconut, salt and lime to taste.

Heat oil,add mustard and curry leaves.When the seeds start to splutter, add the cooked banana and switch off the

flame.

Add the coconut mixture and mix well and serve.

A good side dish to serve with rice and curry.

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The next recipe is with steamed raw banana.

RAW BANANA PORIYAL

INGREDIENTS

2 raw bananas whole unpeeled

1 chopped onion

2 cloves garlic

2 green chillies chopped

1/2 -3/4 cup coconut gratings

1/2 tsp turmeic

1-2 tsp chilli flakes

salt to taste

For tempering

2-3 tbsp coconut oil

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

1/2 tsp cummin seeds

curry leaves

1/4 tsp asafoetida

METHOD

Steam or boil the raw bananas without peeling till cooked .

Slowly remove the peel, mash it lightly, and mix in the coconut, chilli flakes, turmeric and salt .

Heat oil ,add the ingredients for tempering and add the banana coconut mixture and stir well.

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These two dishes are side dishes for rice and curry.