Cook It 5 Ways: Banana

Whip up some banana bread with those overripe bananas.

How often do we buy a bunch of bananas overestimating our love for them, and end up letting them be in the corner of our kitchens long enough to eventually throw them away? This is a story that almost everyone can relate to and can recall it happening more than once or twice.

So maybe it’s time to stop ignoring our favourite fruit and give it the attention it deserves. Pick up that bunch of overripe bananas that you have forgotten about from the kitchen counter and turn them into these delicious treats instead.

Banana Bread

Have left overripe bananas at home? Make some bread with them.

Begin by creaming together butter and sugar. To this, add mashed bananas and eggs and mix well. Then put in flour, salt, baking soda and vanilla essence. Mix well until everything is well incorporated. Pour this into a well-greased baking tin and bake until golden brown. Slice and serve.

Find a recipe here.

Banana Sabzi

While ripe bananas are quite a crowd favourite, don’t let the raw ones take a back seat.

Begin by chopping up the raw bananas. To them, add salt, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, ginger paste and mix well. Put these in a heated pan with some oil and saute. Add chopped onions and tomatoes along with fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, curry leaves and let them cook. Mix more ginger and garlic paste along with water and tamarind paste and let this cook for a while. Serve hot.

Find a recipe here.

Banana Cake

Move over chocolate cake, this banana cake is going to be the new best thing in town.

To make this cake, mix together melted butter, vanilla essence and sugar in a heated saucepan. Take it off the heat and add mashed bananas, eggs, flour, sugar and milk. Add this to a well-greased baking tin and bake for about 30-35 minutes. Let it cool, cut and eat.

Find a recipe here.

Banana Fritters

Whether it’s a house party or movie night, these make for great snacks!

In a large bowl, mix together flour, cinnamon powder, baking soda, eggs and milk. Mix well to make it into a smooth paste. Slice bananas and coat them with this mix. Deep fry until golden brown, dust with icing sugar and serve.

Find a recipe here.

Banana Kofta

The perfect Sunday meal, these koftas are a lot easier to make than you think.

In a heated pan, add oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, chopped onions, green chillies, ginger garlic paste, mashed banana, besan, salt and mix well. Put cottage cheese, chopped coriander, mix and shape into koftas. Deep fry, add to a curry and serve.

Find a recipe here.