Balekai Menaskai (Raw Banana Curry)

To day I am going to take you all to Udupi to enjoy the flavors of One of the world famous Udupi Cuisine. One of the most popular vegetarian south Indian cuisine. This cuisine is developed by Shivalli Madhwa Brahmins who cook food for Lord Krishna of the Sri Krishna Matha, Udupi, Lord Krishna is offered different varieties of food every day. The cuisine is in satvik tradition of Indian vegetarian cusine using no onion , no garlic and of  course no meat. so the main ingredients in Udupi cuisine are vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, milk. The variety and range of dishes are wide and hallmark of the cuisine, most of the ingredients are locally available.
                                                                  There are many typical dishes in this traditional cuisin, Menaskai is one of them which is a sambar like gravy mostly made with fruits like pineapple, mango or with vegetables and grains. This is a must side dish in a full course meal  which is served on a plantainleaf on special occasions. Now here is the recipe for Balekai Menaskai (Raw Banana curry in Udupi style).
Let's check the recipe. 
INGREDIENTS:--
Raw banana ----  3 no.
Black channa  ----  1/4 cup
Toor dal  ----   1 tab sp
Tamarind  ---  golf ball size
jaggery  --- 1 tab sp grated
Salt to taste
Turmeric powder  --- 1/2 tea sp
FOR MASALA:--
Coriander seeds  -- --  2 tea sp
Cumin seeds  ----  3/4 tea sp
Urad dal  ---   1/2 tea sp
Channa dal   ----  1/2 tea sp
Fenugreek seeds  ----  1/4 tea sp
dry red chilli  ----  4
Curry leaves   ----  few
Grated coconut  ---  3/4 cup
Oil ---  2 tea sp
Mustard seeds   ---- 1/2 tea sp
Urad dal   ----  1/2 tea sp
Cumin seeds  ---  1/4 tea sp
Curry leaves   ----  1 spring.
METHOD:---
1. Peel the skin of raw banana and cut in to small cubes, Keep these raw banana pieces immersed in salted water and set a side.
2. Soak tamarind in water for 10 minutes and extract the thick juice and set a side.
3. Pressure cook black channa and toor dal till soft and set a side.
4. Heat one tea sp oil in a pan and fry coriander seeds, cumin seeds, urad dall, channa dal, fenugreek seeds, red chillis, and curry leaves one by one till golden.
5. Grind all those ingredients with grated coconut in to a semi fine paste with little water and set a side.
6. Drain the water from raw banana pieces, add fresh water, turmeric powder, jaggery and bring to full boil, reduce the heat to medium and cook till banana pieces become soft.
7. Once banana pieces are cooked add cooked black channa, toor dal, masala paste, salt to taste add little water and bring to  full boil and switch off the heat.
8. Heat remaining oil in a pan add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dall fri till golden then add curry leaves and add this seasoning to Balekai Menskai (Raw banana curry).
Notes: ---  You can use pineapple, little ripe mango for making this curry.
Keep the flame low and fry the masala ingredients to prevent burning.
coconut should not grind in to fine paste keep it little coarse.
Make sure the banana pieces are well cooked before you add masala other wise it is very difficult to cook banana pieces( they take more time to cook) by the time masala flavor will go off...
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