Thursday, 26 May 2011

Andhra banana curry

In my current school, every other Wednesday a world food club is held. This weeks theme was Indian.











A cook off challenge was issued to me from the head of department and who I am to refuse a cooking challenge.

Instead of playing it safe and doing something fairly standard I decided to come at it from another angle and try something a bit unusual and different...a curry made with bananas from Ramsay's great escape cookbook.

So having endured a day of abuse, mocking and mind games the big cook off challenge arrived:

Andhra banana curry
Ingredients
4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
3cm ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1tsp urad dal
2tbsp vegetable oil
8 curry leaves
1tsp black mustard seeds
1tsp hot chili powder
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 1/2 tbsp tamarind paste
400ml water
6 large unripe bananas, peeled and cut into 4cm pieces
2 tbsp grated fresh coconut.

Method
Put the garlic, ginger, urad dal and a splash of water into a food processor and blend to a fine wet paste, set aside
Heat the oil in a wok and add the curry leaves and mustard seeds. cook for a minute until the seeds start spluttering.
Add the garlic paste into the pan with the wok with the turmeric and chili powder.
Fry for 5 minutes then add the tamarind paste.
Pour in the water and stir well, simmer for 2 minutes
Add the bananas and cook gently until the sauce thickens
Transfer into a warm bowl, stir in the coconut and serve.

Verdict: I will let the contrasting opinions sum this one up:

Before:
'A banana curry? really?'
'What on earth are you putting bananas in a curry for?'
'Are you mad?'

After:
*in a broad yorkshire accent*: 'ooo thats reeeeet nice'
'Thats awesome sir'
'a very good balanced dish' (said grudingly from the HOD)

A draw was decided upon after an argument but I won really.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Gary. I found your blog through Dom's at Belleau Kitchen. How are you?
    I had my first banana curry a couple of years ago and I had the same thought... "that's weird", but after tasting it, the thought changed into "that's really nice", except I don't have a Yorkshire accent.
    Enjoy your weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. hi thanks for finding me.

    Yeah I was pleasantly suprised at the curry as well.

    I like your blog as well, nice looking recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  3. hi Guntur..!

    looks exceptionally yummy and tasty nourishment i ever seen.It takes longer time to make it immaculate as a dish for feast. request at this point
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    ReplyDelete