Banana halwa

Plantains are type of bananas that are less sweet than regular bananas, contain more starch and has different flavor. Plantains are used for making salty and spicy chips. Plantain halwa is a tasty dessert prepared during festival occasions to offer it to Goddess. Like banana, plantain is very important fruit that is not only nutritionally valuable also has religious significances and is integral part of Indian festivals. It is rich in potassium, contains more fiber and fills stomach easily. Raw plantains have more culinary importance. Overripened plantains can be used for preparing desserts. Plantain halwa is simple, calorie rich recipe. Eating one or two pieces gives much needed energy for the day!

Plantain halwa recipe

Ingredients:

1. Over ripened plantains -3 big ones
2. Cardamom powder – 1/2 tsp
3. Cashew nuts – Few
4. Ghee/clarified butter -3/4 cup
5. Sugar – 1 cup (or jaggery)

Preparation:

1. When you select plantains, select those ones the color of skin slightly turned black with black dots. These are more ripened fruits and are good for preparing halwa.
2. Peel and slice plantains. Put in a blender with cardamom powder, sugar and grind without adding water.
3. Place a nonstick frying pan on medium heat and transfer plantain paste.
4. Keep mixing the plantain paste till the paste stops sticking to bottom and side of the vessel.
5. Plantain paste changes is color to darker brown. Turn the heat to low.
6. Now add clarified butter, cut cashew pieces and continue mixing. After about ten minutes, the mix will starts separating from the vessel.
7. Using two fingers test stickiness of halwa. If it sticks to fingers, remove from the heat source. If not continue stirring couple of more minutes.
8. Take a baking pan, apply ghee and transfer hot halwa on to baking pan. Spread it using a spoon to desired thickness.
9. Allow halwa to cool and cut into small pieces.
10. Serve halwa as dessert after lunch or with other snack items with evening snack.
11. Store left over halwa in an airtight container.

* If you are using jaggery, then prepare jaggery syrup and add plantain paste. Replacing sugar with jaggery gives added flavor and more taste.