Aratikaya Mudda Kura / Plantain Curry

Bananas are eaten raw and Plantains are eaten cooked. Not only plantain, some parts of the plantain tree are edible. Banana plant leaves are used to serve food. Plantain, plantain flower, plantain tree truck are used to prepare curries. Plantain stem will have different layers and in the middle will be the core part which is used to cook and the layers are used to offer deeparadhana(diyas) to God during some special occasions.

Serves - 3 to 4
Prep Time : 5 Minutes
Cook Time : 20 to 25 Minutes
Ingredients

• Aratikaya/Raw Plantain - 1, Large one
• Lemon juice - 3 tbsp or to taste
• Turmeric powder - 1/2  tsp
• Salt to taste

For Tempering/Poppu

• Mustard seeds/Avalu - 1 tsp
• Jeera/Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Minapappu/Black gram - 1.5 tsp
• Senagapappu/Bengal gram - 1 tsp
• Garlic clove - 1, crushed
• Dry red chilies - 2
• Green chilies - 3, split lengthwise
• Curry leaves - 1 spring
• Oil - 2 Tbsp

Preparation

• Peel raw plantain skin, wash and make into small sized cubes.
• Cook raw plantain by adding a cup of water, turmeric powder and cook till soft but not mushy.
• Strain any remaining water and mash the cooked plantain coarsely and keep aside.
• Add all the ingredients under tempering and fry till mustard seeds pop and dals turn golden brown and green chilies are little tender.
• Add cooked and coarsely mashed plantain, salt and mix well and cook for 2 minutes.
• Switch off the stove and add lemon juice and mix.
• Serve with rice.