Kelphulachi Upkari / Bondi Phullachi Upkari (Konkani Recipe)

Banana flower is called Bondi /Kelphul in Konkani. Bondi Phulla Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari is a tasty stir fry made with Robusta banana flower florets.A simple and easy to make recipe and step by step method with photos.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Bondi Phullachi Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari.

Ingredients:-

Banana flower.    -1
Dry Red chillies. -2
Onion.                 -1 medium size ( optional)
Grated Coconut.  -1/4 cup
Salt.                     - to taste
Coconut oil.         -1tsp
Lemon juice.        -1tbsp

Instructions:-

1. Take a Robusta banana flower and remove the hard outer petals.

2. Open or lift the petals and pluck and seperate the Banana flower white florets attached under each petals and keep the florets on a plate - [about 2 cup] and discard the hard petals of the Banana flower.

3. Pluck and remove the tepals (small translucent paper like cover), style and stigma from each florets which is bitter and not cooked well if added in the stir fry.Keep the florets in water. Then rinse the banana flower florets couple of times in water.

4. Finely chop the Robusta Banana flower florets.The Banana flower florets become dark after chopping.So immediately soak the chopped Banana flower florets for 10 minutes in very little water.(Add water just to immerse the florets). Squeeze 1tbsp of Lemon juice into the soaked water to prevent the colour change of the florets and also to remove the bitternes. Keep aside.[You can soak the florets in little Butter milk instead of Lemon juice]optional.

5. Finely chop Onion and keep aside (optional).

6. Broke dry Red chillies into halves and keep aside.

Method:-

1. Heat Coconut oil in a pan and splutter Mustard seeds and saute well. Add dry Red chilly halves and fry well in oil.

2. Add finely chopped Onion and saute well till the Onion pieces become translucent. (optional).

3. Add the finely chopped Robusta Banana flower florets into the pan along with soaked lemon juice and mix well.

4. Add required Salt and mix well. Cover and cook the Banana flower florets for 2 minutes on low flame and saute in between.

5. Add Coconut grating into the pan and mix well with the cooked Banana flower florets..

6. Cover and cook for 2 minutes on low flame till the water evaporates and the Coconut gratings nicely mix with the cooked Banana flower florets. Saute in between and switch off the flame.

7. Transfer the Bondi phullachi Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari to a serving plate and garnish with few Coconut gratings.

A tasty Bondi Phullachi Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari is ready to serve as a side dish with rice.

KELPHULACHI UPKARI / BONDI PHULLACHI UPKARI RECIPE AND STEP BY STEP METHOD WTH PHOTOS.

Instructions:-

1. Take a Robusta banana flower and remove the outer hard petals.

Robusta Banana Flower.

2. Open or lift the petals and pluck and seperate the Banana flower white florets attached under each petals and collect the florets on a plate - [about 2 cup] and discard the hard petals of the Banana flower.

Robusta Banana Flower white Florets

3. Pluck and remove the tepals (small translucent paper like cover),style and stigma from each florets which is bitter and not cooked well if added in the stir fry.Keep the cleaned florets in water. Then rinse the banana flower florets couple of times in water.

4. Finely chop the Robusta Banana florets.The 

Banana flower florets become dark after chopping.So immediately soak the chopped Banana florets for 10 minutes in very little water. (Add water just to immerse the florets). Squeeze 1tbsp of Lemon juice into the soaked water to prevent the colour change of the florets and also to remove the bitternes. Keep aside.[You can soak the florets in little Buttermilk instead of Lemon juice]optional.

5. Finely chop Onion and keep aside (optional). 

6. Broke dry Red chillies into halves and keep aside.

Method:-

1. Heat Coconut oil in a pan and splutter Mustard seeds and saute well. Add dry Red chilly halves and fry well in oil.

2. Add finely chopped Onion and saute well till the Onion becomes translucent. (optional).

3. Add the finely chopped Robusta Banana flower florets into the pan along with soaked lemon juice and mix well.

4. Add required Salt and mix well. Cover and cook the Banana flower florets for 2 minutes on low flame and saute in between.

5. Add Coconut grating into the pan and mix well with the cooked banana flower florets.

6. Cover and cook for 2 minutes on low flame till the water evaporates and the Coconut gratings nicely mix with the cooked Banana flower florets. Saute in between and switch off the flame.

7. Transfer the Bondi phullachi Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari to a serving plate and garnish with few Coconut gratings.

A tasty Bondi Phullachi Upkari / Kelphulachi Upkari is ready to serve as a side dish with rice.