This is a very delicious and simple preparation using ripe plantain. This recipe was my grandmother's speciality. When I was small I used to love this dish and whenever I go to my native for vacation she used to prepare it for me. You need very less ingredients for it but the most important one is ripe plantain. By ripe I mean REAL ripe. Or it would not taste any good.
Serves 12-15 pieces
INGREDIENTS:
- Ripe plantain-2
- Sugar-one cup
- Milk-1/4 cup
- Ghee-one tablespoon
- Cardamom powder- 1/4 teaspoon
- Cashews and Raisins for garnishing
How to Prepare:
Step1: Mashing the plantains
Microwave the ripe plantain with the skin, for about 3 minutes till the skin peels off and the plantains are cooked and yellow in colour . When it cools, remove the skin . Make a slit in the centre lengthwise and remove the fibres from the centre. Cut the whole plantain into cubes. With about 1/4 cup milk added at intervals gently mash the cubed plantains to a smooth paste without lumps. It can be done in a blender also.
Step 2: Halwa
In a thick bottomed pan, heat ghee. Add the mashed plantains and sugar and stir continuously till it becomes light brown and thick .Add cardamom powder .Remove from flame and spread onto a greased plate . Allow it to cool .
Step 3: Serving
Garnish with cashews and raisins and cut into equal sized pieces of desired shape.
Tips: You can also make it more simpler by just mashing the plantains as mentioned above and refrigerating it . That way also its tasty. Also you can do the same method and substitute jaggery for sugar for a different flavour and colour. (The one given in picture is made using sugar and little sauting in ghee.)
And if you like the typical banana halwa in bakery which is brown in color, you have to saute the mix well for another 15 minutes adding extra ghee, till the mix starts leaving the sides and becomes thick.
