Nenthrapazham Nirachathu/Stuffed Plantains

Nenthrapazham Nirachathu/Stuffed Plantains

Ingredients 

A. Ingredients For Filling

1. Coconut shredded 11/2 cups
2. Sugar 1/2 cup
3. Cardamom powder/elaichi 1/4 tsp
4. Cashews 10
5. Raisins 25
6. Ghee 1 tbsp plus 11/2 tbsp

B. Ingredients For The Batter

1. Whole wheat flour 1 cup
2. Rice flour 3 tbsp
3. Turmeric powder 1/4 tsp
4. Salt
5. Sugar 2 tbsp
6. Water

C. For Frying

1. Oil 2 cups

Method Of Preparation 

A. Preparing The Filling 

1. Add ghee in a pan. When it gets hot, add the cashews & fry them till they turn golden brown in color. Remove & drain them onto paper towels.

2. Add raisins in the same ghee & fry till they puff up. Remove from the ghee & drain them onto paper towels. 

3. Add 11/2 tbsp more ghee & add the shredded coconut to it. Sauté till you get a nice aroma & the coconut gets mixed well with the ghee & the coconut changes color, a little. Do not sauté till the coconut becomes brown(see pic below).

4. Add sugar & mix it well with the coconut mixture.

5. Add the raisins & cashews & mix well. Add cardamom powder & mix it well again. 

6. Allow it to cool.

7. Peel the skin of plantains. Make a slit in the middle, leaving an inch on both the ends. When you make the slit, make sure, you do not take the knife to the other side of the plantain.

8. Remove the black string which is inside the plantain.

9. Take a little filling, press it in between your palm & fingers (so that you can fill it in the plantains easily) & stuff it in the plantain.

B. Preparing The Batter 

1. In a bowl, add flour, turmeric powder, salt, sugar, rice flour & water to make a somewhat thick batter. Do not make the batter watery, then it will not stick to plantain, at the same time, do not make it too thick too. 

C. Frying 
1. Dip the plantains in the batter. If there isn't enough batter to cover plantains completely, using your hand, scoop some batter & pour it on the top of the plantain(where the filling is).

2. Add oil in a pan & heat it on high. When it gets hot, lower the flame to medium & add the plantains to the oil, the side with the filling facing up. Cook on a medium flame till the plantains turn golden brown on one side & then turn the plantains to the other side & cook till this side turns golden brown in color too. Do not fry the plantains on high flame or very low flame.

3. While one side is cooking, make sure to keep pouring oil on the top(the side with the filling), otherwise when you flip to the other side, it will stick & all the filling might fall into the 

oil.

                                                                                                           

                                                                   
Notes

1. If your unable to remove the black string, then just leave it in there. 

2. The traditional pazham nirachathu uses all purpose flour/maida for the batter, I have used whole wheat flour for a healthier version.