300) NENDRAN BANANA SANDWICH

NENDRAN BANANA SANDWICH

A SCRUMPTIOUS, SWEET TOASTED SANDWICH

THE SWEET TASTE OF KERALA NENDRAN

Ingredients (to make two large sandwiches):

     1)    Fully ripe, medium large Nendran bananas – 2 Nos.

     2)    Sugar – 1 tablespoon

     3)    Grated coconut – ¼ cup

     4)    Cardamom pods – 4 Nos.

     5)    Bread – 4 large slices

     6)    Cooking oil – 2 teaspoons

     7)    Butter or ghee – a little bit to grease the sandwich maker / toaster

To make:

          Shell the cardamom. Crush the seeds to powder and set aside. Peel the banana and chop to superfine pieces. Set a non-stick pan on high heat (you can use a regular pan or cast-iron wok, but you will have to double the cooking oil as the banana tends to stick). Pour in the cooking oil and tip in the bananas. Stir frequently.

          As the pan heats up, turn down the heat slightly. Continue to stir till the bananas start to cook. The colour will change from an orange-yellow to an oily yellow as it cooks. Now put in the sugar and stir. As soon as the sugar melts, tip in the grated coconut and stir for 2 minutes. Now throw in the cardamom powder and mix thoroughly.

          The well-cooked mixture will now have thickened and will turn into a ball as you stir. Switch off the heat.

          Grease both inner sides of the sandwich maker / toaster. Put in a slice of bread and spoon in half the banana mix. Place another slice on top and close the lid. Roast till the bread envelope turns golden brown. Make a second sandwich likewise. Your delicious, nutritious Nendran banana sandwich is now ready to eat. Serve hot.

Enjoy!!!

Tip:

          If you like, you can make nutty sandwiches by including a couple of teaspoons of cashew bits. The bits need to be roasted in cooking oil or butter or ghee just before you put the chopped bananas into the pan.

Note:

          Diabetic patients can avoid sugar altogether from this recipe. So long as the banana is fully ripe, your sandwich will taste just fine.