The Humble Banana

Some aspects of our diet are sometimes just taken for granted. Take breakfast for example, the most important meal of the day that gets least attention. Similarly bananas are another aspect of our diet that’s “there” and needs no speaking about in the age of strawberries and fruit exotica. Well for starters, banana is a berry and of the 107 countries that banana is grown in, India certainly is a prominent contributor to its consumption. Well let’s keep this crisp and glorify this humble fruit with a five points covering why we recommend you fall in love with this fruit.

1 Bananas help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin — the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter.
2 Bananas balance your blood composition and relieve anemia with the added iron .
3 High in potassium and low in salt, bananas are able to lower blood pressure and protect against heart attack and stroke.
4 Bananas are a superb detox as they are rich in pectin, thus helping aid digestion and gently remove toxins and heavy metals from the body.
5 Bananas are a natural antacid, providing relief from acid reflux and heartburn.

Steamed Banana and Walnut Loaf

Ingredients

150 gms ground oats
150 gms almond flour
400 gms whole wheat flour
400 gms brown sugar
300 gms honey
12 golden bananas
180 gms walnuts
17 gms baking soda
17 gms baking powder
500 ml olive oil

Method

1. Combine all the dry ingredients together along with the ripe mash banana, sugar and honey and let it mix with the paddle attachment.
2. Add olive oil to the mixture and mix it thoroughly.
3. Divide the batter into the prepared tins.
4. Bake them on a double boil at 175 C for 20 – 25 minutes. Serve warm with low fat whipped cream.

Raw Banana Croquettes

Ingredients for raw banana croquettes

4 boiled raw banana
Salt to taste
2 tbsp grated cheese : 2 tbsp
1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp chopped garlic
1tsp garam masala powder
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tbsp chopped coriander
2-3 tbsp red kidney beans
All purpose flour to coat
1 1/2 tbsp oil to roast

Ingredients for the salad

1 tomato
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp feta cheese
1 tbsp sour cream
1 tsp lemon juice
Salt to taste
Crushed black pepper as required
1 tbsp chopped coriander

For garnish

Banana chips as required
Sour cream as required
1 pinch red chili powder
1 coriander leaf

Method

1. Take the boiled raw banana and peel it and take it out in a bowl.
2. Now add salt, grated cheese, lemon juice chopped garlic, garam masala powder and cumin powder.
3. Also add red chili powder, chopped coriander and red kidney beans, in this mixture and prepare the tikki.
4. Heat oil in a pan and cook the tikki from both the sides. For the salad cut long wedges of the tomato and them.
5. Keep the salad on a plate and keep the tiiki on it. Decorate it with banana chips. Put the sour cream on a plate, sprinkle red chili powder and garnish with coriander leaves.