Recipe - Aratikaya koora (Kacche kele ki sabzi)

Raw plantain cooked with onion and tomato

Plantains has high dietary fiber, vitamin c, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It is good for people suffering with asthma, bronchitis, cancer. By eating plantain or banana, for diabetics, it temporarily increases the blood sugar and insulin level, and also due to the high dietary fiber may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Source: Puritan

Plantains can be used for cooking different types of food depending on the ripeness. Raw plantain can be used for making fritters, chips by deep frying, steam cooked to make curries. Every household, in southern India prepares raw plantain curry with variations. For example, small amounts of coconut or curry powder/mustard paste are added. The recipe given is the one cooked with tomato and onion without any sweet and sourness added to it.

Ingredients

• Plantain - 1 large
• Chana dal - 2 teaspoons
• Urad dal - 1 teaspoons
• Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Mustard seeds - 1 teaspoon
• Curry leaves 1 stalk
• Dry red chilli - 1
• Green Chilli - 2 (depending on the spice level)
• Salt - 1 teaspoon
• Turmeric - 1/4 teaspoon
• Oil - 2 teaspoons
• Water - 1/2 cup

Process:

Preheat oil in a medium bottom saucepan or wok on medium high temperature, add chana dal, urad dal, cumin seeds and mustard seeds. Let them splutter, add red chilli, green chillies and curry leaves.

Add onion, tomato, salt and turmeric sautee it for 5 minutes. Add the chopped raw plantain, mix it well.

Cover the dish, cook on low heat till the plantain blends well with onion and tomato, add 1/2 cup of water to curry (approximately 15 minutes). Turn off the stove, when plantain is fully cooked.

Serve hot with rice or roti.

Preparation time: 20 - 30 minutes
# Servings: 2 - 4