BANANA LEAF KESARI


Banana leaf kesari ??? I came across a banana

leaf halwa recipe from ‘ God’s own country

Kerala.I had not tasted anything made with

banana leaf extract,still ‘the curious me’

searched the Internet for its uses and health

benefits .I have made food wrapped in banana

leaf ,but not made with it’s extract .

After my search,I was amazed at the benefits

contained so here’s only a few benefits I would

like to point out.( Please do find the full

benefits )

•It boosts the immune system.

•Made into a juice or tea and consumed helps

in the relief of sore throats.

•High antioxidant levels .

•Applied to skin,prevents cellulite and wrinkles

in skin.

•Good for dandruff and hair growth .

• Good for skin irritation and application

regularly will make your skin glowing ..,,

( please continue hitting the google search button😀).

A line on the recipe- It’s the same kesari recipe ,

and the only difference is the addition of the

leaf extract . No colour was used .Nature shed

it’s own green glamour.

*Remove the mid stalk from the leaf .Wash and grind fine with a little water.

To the recipe

INGREDIENTS

1 cup roasted rawa ( semolina,rulang)

1 cup sugar

1.5 cups of the juice extract ( banana leaf )*

1/2 tsp cardamon powder

A pinch of salt

3-4 tbsp ghee +1 tbsp groundnut oil

A pinch of edible camphor ( optional)

Few cashews and raisins

METHOD

• Heat ghee and oil in a kadai or small wok.

•Add the cashew and raisins.

•Add the juice extract and allow to reach a boil.

•Add the roasted rawa,reduce the flame,cover

and cook till the semolina is cooked .

•Then add the sugar and mix well till it’s thick .

•Add a little ghee on the top and serve !

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BIBIKAN TARTS


Bibikan is a recipe from the Srilankan cuisine.

It is a sweet cake made with coconut,jaggery /

treacle . The authentic recipe was made with

rice flour,but now the all purpose flour has

taken it’s place.This cake like texture sweet is

available all over Srilanka. The expert hands

are mostly from the villages of Srilanka, and on

certain occasions, you can see the ladies having

rows of stalls , with these sweet meats.If

observed,most of the sweets of Srilanka are

prepared with jaggery only.

Today’s recipe,is my innovation of this sweet

mixture into tarts and flour replaced with

semolina/rawa.Awesome taste and texture,and

I’m excited to share this recipe with you all.

Do try and post in your valued comments!

INGREDIENTS

For the filling

2 cups grated coconut

2 cups jaggery / 1 cup treacle

1 cup roasted semolina

1 tsp mixed spice powder*

25 gm chopped dates

A few raisins ( I used leftover rum soaked

raisins)

25 gm pumpkin preserve

1/4 cup coarsely ground cashewnuts

1/2 tsp ginger powder

1 tblsp vanilla essence

1 tblsp rose water

Grated rind of lime

a pinch of salt

METHOD

Grind half of the coconut with 1 cup water and

set aside .

Now mix in the rest of the ingredients to the

ground coconut.

Mix well and pour spoonfuls into tartlets and

bake at 180C for 30 minutes.( You will get the

aroma of a rich cake)

For the tart shells

1 cup flour

20 gm butter

1 egg

1 tbsp sugar

a pinch of salt

1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

A little milk / ice water for binding

Method

Bind all ingredients to a soft dough , cover and

rest in fridge till you make the filling.

Divide into portions,roll dough and line tart

moulds.

Place filling and bake.

*Spice powder- cinnamon,cloves,cardamon,fennel seeds,nutmeg – a tsp of each powdered and stored.