Banana Erussery   (Chena Vazhakkai Erissery)

Raw bananas have several health benefits so we always find new ways to add them to our diet.  This is a Kerala style preparation and one of the items on an Onam Sadya.  Referred to as Chena Vazhakkai Erissery or Ellisery, this is a simple dish with the use of fresh coconut, curry leaves and cumin seeds as the only ingredients for the gravy apart from onion, red chillies and garlic with some coconut for garnish. Yam, pumpkin and beans are also included as per personal preference.  I have added some pre-cooked jackfruit seeds. Enjoy with steamed rice or appams!

Ingredients

• 3 large raw bananas
• ½ cup boiled jackfruit seeds
• ½ tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup fresh grated coconut
• ½ tsp. black pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2 sprigs curry leaves
• ½ tsp. mustard seeds
• 4 flakes garlic, cushed
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 to 6 small round red chillies (or 2 long chillies, broken into pieces)
• 2 tbsp. oil
• Peel the bananas and chop into small cubes.  Immerse in water till required.

Boil the banana pieces with turmeric and salt and 1 cup water.  Grind ½ the coconut, cumin and curry leaves to a paste adding water.  Add to the cooked bananas, mix and cook 5 minutes.  Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seed and when they pop add the crushed garlic and onion.  When light brown, add the remaining coconut and fry till nice and brown.  Add to the erussery (reserve some for garnish) and mix well. Remove to a serving dish and serve hot garnished with some fried onion coconut mixture.