Banana peel fry (Nanderbalae Kelya Sali thaleli- Nendran peels) ‘Kelya Sali’ in Konkani means banana peel. It is not just any banana peel. It has to be specifically the Kerala variety Nendran banana that too the peel of the raw and mature one. You don’t have to worry too much, the dish is simple and if you are frying some banana chips at home you can use those peels. Nanderbalae Kelya Sali thaleli go well with meals. You can use them instead of pappads. In olden times, during rainy season you won’t get any pappads as preparing pappads require sunlight. So these kind of small dishes were prepared at home to be served along with meals in place of pappads. I have included more of such recipes under Vegetable fries
Ingredients
- You need approximately 1 bunch of nanderbalaein Kelya Sali (Nendran banana)
- ½ cup rice flour
- 1 tspn of red chilly powder (or as per your spiciness level)
- A small spoon of asafetida
- Salt to taste
- Oil for deep frying
Method
Remove and discard the outer green peel of the kelya sali. You can do that buy just pulling it from top to bottom using a knife (Similar to removing the skin of tender taro stems in the preparation of Alwathi). After removing the peels cut them into 2 to 2 ½ inch pieces and keep aside. (Your hands are going to get browned so you can use gloves while doing this).
In a wide mouth container mix rice flour, red chilly powder, asafetida and salt uniformly. You can call it the rice flour mix. (you need not have to add any water).
Smear the cut pieces of the kelya sali with the rice flour mixture and place it on a separate plate.
Leave it for marinating for half to one hour. You can see that as the time goes by the rice powder has sticked to the pieces of kelya sali.
In the mean time heat oil in kadai for deep frying. Take a few pieces and fry them in oil till golden brown or cooked.
Remove the excess oil by placing them on a strainer or on paper towels.
Banana peel fry is ready.
Tips
If you want you can even store the peels wrapped in paper cover in the refrigerator and you can use them in 1 to 2 days time. But I would prefer you use the peels on the same day itself for better taste.
If you have any left over rice flour mixture do not throw away. Store in refrigerator and use the next day.
