Eating on banana leaves is common in India. In functions, instead of using throw away plastic and paper plates people serve using banana leaves which are biodegradable and adds value to soil. Eating on banana leaf is healthier for various reasons. In addition, it increases food taste by adding unique flavor to the dishes. Do you know, banana tree parts are also used in dishes? Tender banana leaves can be turned into delicious and tasty halwa. Read the recipe below.

Ingredients:

1. Tender Banana leaf chopped – 2 cups
2. Corn flour – 1 cup
3. Milk – 1.5 cup
4. Sugar – 1 cup
5. Vanilla essence – ¼ tsp
6. Cardamom powder – ½ tsp
7. Cashew chopped – ¼ cup
8. Raisin – few
9. Dry ginger powder – 1 tsp
10. Ghee – 2-3 Tbsp
11. Green food color – pinch (optional)

Preparation:

1. Collect tender banana leaf, wash, and cut into small pieces.
2. Grind cut banana leaf pieces with 1 cup water.
3. Collect juice by straining through sieve or muslin cloth.
4. Take a deep pan and place it on medium heat.
5. Add 2 tbsp ghee, roast cashews and then raisins. Keep roasted items aside.
6. Boil banana leaf juice for about 2-3 minutes.
7. Add corn flour to boiling banana leaf juice and stir continuously.
8. Add milk to the above mix, continue stirring.
9. Add 1 tablespoon of ghee.
10. Add sugar, ginger powder, and cardamom powder.
11. Continue mixing, till the mix thickens and starts separating from side of the vessel.
12. Turn off the heat, transfer halva evenly to ghee smeared plate.
13. Garnish top of halwa with roasted cashew and raisins.
14. Once the halwa settles down and cools, cut halwa into shape, size that you desire.

Image credit: Hans https://pixabay.com/photos/banana-leaf-leaf-green-93692/ (cc by 0)