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.