Banana Buns

Again I have come up with yet another Mangalorean speciality. You will find this dish on every menu card in a Mangalorean Restaurants which is normally served as breakfast.

The secret to this recipe is the extra ripeness of the bananas. If you want good results, then you need to set aside 2 or 3 large size bananas aside till they go black from outside and still firm and sweet from inside. But only disadvantage of this dish is, that it is deep fried. But there is no harm if you get to indulge in such a thing once in a while.

There are other recipes for over ripe bananas which are not deep fried, like you can check my recipes of Banana Bread and Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins.



Serving Size: 15 to 20 Buns
Preparation & Standing Time: 5 hours
Cooking Time: 30 minutes (approx for rolling & frying)

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/2 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup grated jaggery)
• 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cups plain flour (Approx - little more or little less)
• 3 tbsp of ghee or melted butter

Method:

1. In a blender jar, blend together - mashed bananas, yogurt, sugar and cumin seeds to a smooth mixture. ( The consistency of this mixture will be like a smoothie)
2. Mix together - plain flour, baking soda and salt separately.
3. Take a large mixing bowl and pour the banana mixture into it. Add plain flour mixture little at a time along with melted butter and make a smooth soft dough. (Add 1 cup flour at a time...mix and then add another cup...and so on. You might need a little more flour than what is mentioned or may be little less)
4. Keep the dough at room temperature for 4 to 5 hours. (more than that, you need to store it in the refrigerator)
5. Heat 5 cups of cooking oil in a deep sauce pan (kadhai).
6. Divide the dough into small lemon size balls.
7. With help of a rolling pin (bhelan) roll out each part into a small disc (like puri) but by using only oil.
8. Deep fry the buns in medium hot oil for 1 minute on each side or till they are fully puffed up.
9. Serve the buns with cheese spread or fresh cream.

Strawberry Oats Smoothie

Ingredients (for 2 servings)

• 6 strawberries
• Half a banana
• 2 tbsp oats
• 4 tsp sugar
• ½ cup yogurt
• 1 ½ cup milk

Method:

1. Heat a pan and slightly toast the oats.
2. Add chopped strawberries, banana, sugar, oats and yogurt to the blender jar and blend it till you get a smooth mixture.
3. Then add milk and blend for few seconds till smooth. Taste and check if more sugar is needed. You can add more milk if needed.
4. Serve chilled.

Strawberry Jam Cheesecake Shots

Serving size: 10 small shot glasses

Ingredients

Base:

10 digestive biscuits (any tea biscuits will do)

50 grams butter

Filling:

1/2 tin condensed milk (big size)

1 tin nestle cream (or 1 cup plain cream)

150 grams cream cheese (10-12 cheese triangles @room temperature)

¼ cup strawberry jam

3 cups whipped cream

Topping:

¼ cup strawberry jam

½ cup water

Method:

1. For preparing the base, melt the butter and add it to the crushed biscuits. Set the biscuit crumbs in each shot glass or 1 big serving dish. Press the mixture evenly and tightly with help of a back of a glass and refrigerate till firm.
2. In a separate bowl whip cream cheese, condensed milk, nestle cream and strawberry jam using a cake beater. Add in the whipped cream to the cheese mixture, this should be done with a ladle or big spoon and mix gently.
3. Pour the cheese mixture into each shot glass and again set in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
4. Prepare the topping by cooking strawberry jam along with water till you get a thick strawberry sauce. Set aside and cool.
5. Pour this sauce over the cheese cake and chill again in the refrigerator till it is served.

*To make whipped cream at home: First keep 2 cups full fat cream in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Then pour into a mixing bowl and whip it by hand or using a cake beater till it becomes thick and peaks are formed. Then add 1 cup icing sugar and whip again till it is well combined.

Orange Iced Tea

1 serving


Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag
• Sugar (2 tsp or according to preference)
• 1 glass fresh orange juice chilled
• Some orange slices
• 2 mint leaves
• 3 ice cubes

Method:

1. Place the tea bag in hot water for 2 minutes or as strong as you wish. Add sugar and stir till it dissolves. Discard the tea bag and chill in the refrigerator.
2. Take a tall serving glass and combine chilled tea and fresh orange juice.
3. Put some orange slices, mint leaves and ice cubes and serve cold.

Mango Orange Cooler

Serving Size: 1 glass



Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp mango pulp
• 3/4 glass fresh orange juice
• Sugar or honey (optional)
• 3 to 4 ice cubes
• Orange slices
• Mint leaves for garnish 

Method:

1. Take a tall glass, and place some ice cubes followed by mango pulp and orange and orange juice.
2. Garnish with orange slices and mint leaves.
3. Serve chilled.

Berry & Peanut Butter Smoothie

A smoothie which is a blend of berries, banana and peanut butter. Ideal drink for breakfast and also as a beneficial weight loss drink packed with vitamins and proteins.

Serves 2




Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 raspberries / strawberries / blackberry
• 1/2 banana
• 1 cup milk (or more)
• 1 tbsp of smooth peanut butter
• 1 tbsp honey

Method: Blend together the above mention ingredients in a juicer till smooth. Serve chilled.

Pineapple Salad

This tropical salad is fully packed with freshness, flavors and colors. If you see from the nutrition point of view, then it is loaded with Vitamin C and other minerals like manganese etc.


Some of the health benefits of pineapples are 

• Immune system support. 
• Bone strength. 
• Eye health.
• Digestion.
• Anti-Inflammatory benefits. 

Ingredients:

• 1 fresh pineapple ( or 1 tinned pineapple)
• 1 cucumber
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 small onion sliced
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp chat masala powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• Salt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Few coriander leaves chopped / or spring onion 

Method:

1. If you are using fresh pineapple, then cut the pineapple into half and with the help of a knife and spoon, scoop out all the pulp from one half.
2. Peel the other half of the pineapple neatly, by removing all the eyes on the surface. Cut pineapple into cubes and place in a large mixing bowl.
3. Chop bell peppers and cucumber into bite size pieces.
4. Slice the onion and add everything to the mixing bowl.
5. Sprinkle desired amount of red chili powder, chat masala powder, salt, lemon juice, sugar and chopped coriander leaves.
6. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
7. Take the scooped out half of the pineapple and use it as a serving dish for the salad.
8. Serve chilled.

Strawberry Cream

Ingredients: (To make 4 glasses)

• 6 strawberries sliced
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup icing sugar or powdered sugar
• 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream for each glass
• Strawberry syrup as needed (or make your own)
• 1 packet strawberry Jelly

Preparation:

• Prepare strawberry jelly and set.
• Keep the cream in freezer for 30 minutes only till it becomes cold and chilled. Do not freeze.
• In a bowl beat 1 cup chilled cream and 1/2 cup icing sugar till thick and fluffy.
• If you do not have Strawberry syrup: Make your own by making a paste of 5 to 6 strawberries + 1 tbsp of strawberry jam. Add few drops of water if needed. 

Method:

1. Take 4 big glasses or 6 shot glasses. Add strawberry jelly as first layer.
2. Add cream as second layer.
3. Strawberry slices as third layer.
4. Strawberry sauce as fourth layer.
5. And finally top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
6. Serve chilled.