KELYA AMBAT [Konkani style Sweet Banana Curry]

Kelya Ambat is a Konkani dish.Banana is called Kele in Konkani.Kelya Ambat is a traditional Kochi GSB style ripe Nendran Banana Curry.Ripe Nendran Banana (Kerala banana) is used to prepare this delicious recipe.This sweet banana curry "Kelya Ambat" is prepared in all Kochi side Gowda Saraswatha Brahmin  community homes on the religious festival day called "Sutha Punnav" [Sacred Thread Changing Ceremony].

The following ingredients are needed to prepare this delicious recipe.

Ingredients:-

Ripe Nendran Banana. -2 or 3
Chana dhal.                  -1/2 cup
Jaggery.                        - 1and 1/2 cup grate
Salt.                               - a pinch
Cashew nuts.                 -12 (optional)


For grinding Coconut Masala:-

Coconut grated. -1cup
Dry Red chillies. -2
Turmeric power. -1/4tsp


For Seasoning:-

Coconut oil.      - 1tsp
Mustard seeds. -1tsp
Cumin seeds   . -1tsp

Ripe Nendran Banana/Kerala Banana

Instructions:-

1.Wash and pressure cook Chana dal for 15 minutes or for 3 whistles with required Water or till cooked but not mushy and keep aside.

2.Peel the skin of 2 or 3 Ripe Nendran Banana and chop lengthwise and then slice horizontaly into 1/2 inch thick pieces and keep aside.

3.Grate Jaggery with a kitchen knife.In a small vessell boil the grated Jaggery with I/4 cup Water till it dissolves in Water completely and then strain it to remove the impurities and keep aside in a small bowl.

4.Grind the grated coconut along with 2 dry Red chillies and Turmeric powder to a smooth paste adding very little water and keep aside.

5.Keep aside 12 Cashew nuts.

Method:-

1.In a cooking vessel add the cooked Chana dal and boil for a minute.

2.Add the chopped ripe Nendran banana pieces and boil again till the Banana pieces half cooked.

3.Add a pinch of Salt and mix well.

4.Add the strained Jaggery water and mix well with the cooked Chana dal and cooked Banana pieces.Boil for 2 minutes on low flame.

5.Add Cahew nuts and boil well.

6.Add the ground Coconut Masala paste and mix well and boil on low flame for few minutes and switch off the flame.

7.Heat Coconut oil in a pan and splutter Mustard seeds and Cumin seeds and saute well.

8.Add the Curry leaves and fry for a second.

9.Add the above seasoning into the Curry in the cooking vessel and close the vessel with a lid.

10.A tasty, yummy and delicious Kelya Ambat is ready to serve with Rice.

Try and enjoy the sweet dish.