Upperi/ Kerala Banana Chips

Upperi/ Banana Chips are very synonym to Keralites, this serves as snacks which are very popular among all especially during Kerala Sadhya (during festive feasts). In Malaysia, these chips are commercialized and sold by Malays and its widely available even in the shopping complexes. Now let us see how to make these chips my family's style;

Ingredients:
5 raw plantain (peeled and sliced thinly)
2 tsp of turmeric powder
1 cup of water
Salt to taste
Oil to fry

In a bowl mix water, salt and turmeric powder and keep aside.

Heat oil in a pan and maintain medium flame, fry sliced plantain until 3/4th cooked (do not over crowd the frying pan as these plantains will stick together), sprinkle the salt and turmeric water on the frying plantain. You do not have to sprinkle turmeric and salt water every time you fry the plantain as the oil will be salty, every third or fourth time will do. Once the chips perfectly fried, drain and let it cool down before transferring into an air-tight container.

This chips can be stored up to a month if handles properly. Our Upperi/Banana Chips are ready to be served. 

Do try and let me know how it turned out for you!

Cekodok/ Banana Balls/Fritters

Ingredients:

3 bananas (large and ripe)

1 cup of all purpose flour

1/4 tsp of baking soda

1/2 cup of coarse sugar

A pinch of salt

Oil to fry

Mash bananas with sugar, baking soda and salt, this preparation doesn't need any water for mixing as bananas with sugar, salt and baking soda will be watery. Finally, add all purpose flour and mix well with the banana mixture. This batter will be slightly watery but do not worry that is the right consistency needed, let the batter rise for about 10 minutes before frying.

Now heat enough oil for frying over medium flame, add in small portion of banana mixture and fry until it's brown. Do not stir the mixture immediately, let one side cook first before flipping to another side.

Banana and Cheese Sandwich

I didn't want to have anything heavy for lunch and was late for breakfast, while planning for a quick meal I thought of having a simple breakfast for lunch. I had lots of cheese in my pantry, so to whip up a quick meal I made Banana and Cheese Sandwich. This is a very simple sandwich and I'm sure kids will definitely love it. Now let's see how to make this simple sandwich;

Ingredients:

4 slices of bread

1 large banana (sliced)

4 slices of cheese

Toast both sides of the bread upon your preference, I love if its slightly charred ( I have used skillet to toast the bread). Now place one slice of cheese on each bread, let the bread sit on low flame. Arrange slices of banana on two slices bread and top it with the other slice of bread with cheese only. Cover the sandwich so that the heat will melt the cheese. Now our Banana and Cheese Sandwich is ready to be served.

Do try and let me know how it turned out for you!

Moist Banana Cake

I have been planning to bake banana cake for a long time but buying it has been very tough as I didn't get the exact type I was looking for. Two days back, I managed to buy some and immediately planned to bake my favourite cake. The most important thing to get a perfect cake is the mashing of banana to a very fine and smooth paste then let it oxidize for at least 30 minutes to get wonderful cake after baking the cake. Mine didn't turn out as expected as I didn't have the patience to wait for it to oxidize perfectly but the cake was so yummy and finished in two days.

Now let's look at how to bake this yummy yummy cake;

Ingredients:

1 cup of mashed bananas (I have added 2 cups)

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 and 1/2 cup of plain flour

1 tsp of baking powder

1/2 tsp of baking soda

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1/4 cup of milk

3/4 cup of soft brown sugar

3 large eggs 

A pinch of salt

Sift plain flour, baking soda and baking powder, keep aside.

Beat brown sugar, salt, vegetable oil and eggs until fluffy then add vanilla extract. Now alternately add the dry ingredients with milk. Finally add mashed bananas and fold in to the cake batter.

Pour the batter into a buttered cake pan and bake for 35-45 minutes at 150-180 degrees or until the cake is well baked. 

Let the baked cake cool for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving it. Now our Moist Banana Cake is ready to be served. I prefer eating the cake chilled, do try and let me know how it turned out for you!