Vazha Koombu Chemmeen Thoran/Banana Flower-Prawns StirFry

I know my previous post was also a Thoran/Stir fry,but I wanted to post this one earlier but somehow I completely missed it.This thoran is made with the the banana blossom,it's called as the ''Heart of a Banana tree''.In Kerala mostly all the houses have a Banana tree.Even in my house back home there are a few Banana trees,the ones with those small Bananas mainly.The whole gardening credit goes to my Umma who has a real passion for it.But now a days she can't take much effort into this passion (health wise).

Stuffed Bananas(Plantains)/Unnakkaya/Kaayada

Unnakkaya or kaayada is a very popular snack in the North Malabar side,mostly found in the 'treats' given by Malabar Muslims.It is also prepared during Ramadan.
  Stuffed Banana is a snack made with a sweet  filling.In Malabar where Stuffed mussels has its place in spicy snacks,similarly this Unnakkaya has its own place in sweet snacks 
   It is a good and healthy snack item for kids.Here the Plantains used,should neither be too raw nor too ripe   it should be medium ripe.Here goes the recipe

Ingredients
Plantain          1 kg(semi ripe)
Eggs               5
Cashew nuts   2 tbsp
  (break each cashew nut into 3-4 pieces) 
Raisins          2tblsp
Sugar            5-6tblsp 
Ghee             1tblsp
Cardamom powder   1 tsp
Oil             for deep frying

Method
-Peel and cut the bananas in round shape of 1 inch thickness.
-Place these bananas in a steamer and steam for 15-20 minutes.
-Mash them well without any lumps into a dough consistency.Keep aside.

 -In a bowl break the eggs, add sugar and beat a little (the sugar doesn't have to dissolve at this stage)set aside.
-Now in a pan heat ghee,add nuts then raisins.When the raisins puff add the egg-sugar mix completely and scramble them by stirring continuously on medium-low heat till the egg gets cooked.
-Add the cardamom powder,stir and remove from fire 

-Take small balls out of the banana dough,flatten each ball,add a little filling and seal the sides.Roll and shape
the stuffed plantains(see image below)
-Finish the whole dough and filling this way.
-Heat oil in a wok and fry the Unnakkaya/Kaayada till golden brown.

*You can use a little oil on your palm and fingers while flattening and shaping these.

*To mash the bananas you can use a potato masher or back of a ladle or bottom of a steel glass (traditionally wet grinders are used to grind the steamed bananas without adding water,you can also use a food -processor)
*Non-vegetarians,can use grated coconut instead of eggs in the filling.Saute the coconut till light brown in

colour along with cashew nuts and raisins.    

Banana Fry/Pazham Pori

Banana(ripe Plantain)Fry is a famous snack of Kerala.It is called pazham pori. Actually you can find Plantain trees in almost every house in Kerala.Different recipes are made with both raw and ripe plantains.In this recipe the banana slices are dipped in a batter and deep fried.