Arati Kaaya Masala Vepudu (Plantain Stir Fried With Spices)

Raw Plantain(Green) is called 'Arati Kaaya' in Andhra and is a popular vegetable in Southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.The famous "Banana Chips" of Kerala are raw plantains slices deep fried in coconut oil.

You need to be sure to pick a recipe appropriate for the plaintain you have on hand.When the plantain is green it is quite starchy and the flavor is more like a potato.The green fruit can be fried or boiled.When the plantain turns yellow the sugars begin to develop and imparts a slight sweetness to the fruit. At this stage the fruit may show a few freckles of black.The plantain is at it's sweetest once it turns black.One would want to use these plantains for dessert or any recipe which requires a sweet taste.So, Plantains can be used at any stage of ripeness.Here's a picture showing plaintain in different stages of ripeness...green,yellow and black

Today's recipe is a dry masala stir fry dish with plantains,onions,fresh coconut and spices.The recipe source is amma (my mom) and is a family favorite dish.Tastes excellent with rice,you can eat it with rotis too.



Ingredients:

2 raw plantains, peeled, sliced into thick rounds
2 tbsp fresh grated coconut
3 medium onion peeled, sliced into thick rounds
2 green chillies slit length wise
1 tsp red chilli pwd
3/4 tsp coriander pwd
1/2 tsp cumin pwd
1/2 tsp fennel seeds pwd(saunf)
1/4 tsp garam masala pwd
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
10 curry leaves
2 tbsps oil
salt
1/2 cup water

Take a wide plate and combine all the dry masalas except garam masala and saunf pwd with sliced onions and plaintains.
Heat a cooking vessel and add oil.Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.Now add the cumin seeds and curry leaves.Fry for 10 seconds.
Add slit green chillis and add the plaintains which have been combined with the masalas.Add grated coconut.Combine well.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of water and cover and cook.Let the plaintains cook in the steam.
Once in a while stir.
Add the garam masala pwd ,saunf pwd and adjust salt towards the end of the cooking.
Once the plaintains are cooked till soft remove from heat and serve with hot rice.

In fact Raw Plantain is an effective astringent and is recommended by Ayurveda widely as a diet for treating diarrhoea. Cut one raw banana into three pieces and soften them in a pressure cooker adding adequate water. Drain out the excess water. Separate the peel and mash the softened pulp well. In a skillet, dry roast 1 tbsp of poppy seeds(khus-khu,ghasgasaalu) till they brown. Grind it to a fine powder. Add this powder to the mashed banana pulp with a pinch of salt. This nutritious receipe checks diarrhoea owing to its astringent properties.

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