Banana Chips. The Taste of Kerala.

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Kerala is a state where you get variety of foods. Today I am going to tell you about banana (plantain). It was found in south east Asia, having been cultivated in south India by 500BC. Later it had spread to Japan and Samoa.  It arrived in Latin America by 1500 AD.

A plantain to the untrained eye could easily be mistaken for a banana. It looks and smells like a banana, but if you ever bite into a raw plantain, you’ll know it’s not.

Plantains are bigger than bananas, harder to peel (especially when green), and can not be eaten raw. They must be cooked for consumption. So, why are they so popular in Caribbean cuisine? Plantains are very versatile. They are always ready for cooking no matter what stage of ripeness - green, yellow or black, and plantains are used in different dishes from appetizers to desserts.

Plantains are widely available throughout the U.S. and can usually be found in the produce section of your local supermarket. At the grocery store, look for firm plantains. Avoid shriveled, squishy, or moldy fruit. You can ripen plantains by storing them at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Turn them daily. It will take seven to ten days for green plantains to fully ripen. If you aren’t ready to use them when they’ve reach the desired stage of ripeness, you can peel and freeze them for up to three months.

I like to buy a bunch of plantains while they are green. This way, I can enjoy them over several days and at each delicious stage of ripeness. When still green, I prepare tostones or plantain chips seasoned with salt and pepper. They go well as a side dish with rice and beans. When fully ripened, I prepare the plantains by baking them in their skins at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 - 50 minutes and serve them seasoned with salt, pepper and a pat of butter.

Banana Farm
Cultivation of banana is widely seen in south east asia.

Banana chips

Delicious Banana (plantains) chips.

It is an integral part of the traditional Kerala meal during weddings and traditional festivals such as Onam. In Kerala, unripe banana are used to make salted chips. It was the first time I am making the banana chips.

Raw Banana 2

Coconut oil for deep frying or any other vegetable oil. If you want to have the aroma of Kerala you must use coconut oil.

INGREDIENTS          

 • 5 Raw Bananas (peeled) 
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric Powder 
• Oil for deep-frying 
• Salt to taste

METHOD.

•	Put the peeled bananas in salted iced water.
•	Chop the bananas in water and add turmeric.
•	Keep in water for 10 minutes and then drain out water completely.
•	Transfer to a kitchen cloth to remove the moisture.
•	Heat oil till it starts fuming.
•	Deep-fry the slices till almost crisp. Add few slices at a time.
•	Prepare paste of 1/2 tsp water and 1/4 tsp salt.
•	Add this paste to oil. This will make the slices crispier.
•	Repeat the procedure for remaining slices.
•	Drain the chips on an absorbent paper.
•	Cool and store them in an airtight container

banana curry

Banana juice

Banana bread

Banana beer

Man carrying Banana to Market

            Farmer work hard in remote villages to  grow banana and they get paid by wholesale dealers.

Truck loaded with banana

A boat carrying people in south India.