Unnakaya/Kaayada / Stuffed banana rolls

Unnakaya is a traditional snack of malabar keralites. Unnakaya is a snack mainly prepared during Ramadan time for breaking fast. Main ingredients of the dish are steamed and mashed Kerala bananas/ nenthrappazam, egg, coconut, sugar, nuts and raisins.

Ingredients


Banana /Nenthrappazam   – 3 medium
Cashew nuts – 1 tbsp
Raisins  – 1 tbsp
Grated coconut – 1 tbsp
Egg  – 1 no
Sugar – 2 tbsp
Cardamom powder- 1/2 tsp
Ghee – 2 tbsp
Oil   –  2 tbsp


Method

Using a steamer, steam the plantains. Set aside to cool. Now remove the black seeds from the plantain. Mash them using a masher or give a whizz in your blender. There should be no lumps. Set this aside. 


Heat ghee in a pan, fry chopped cashewnuts and raisins. Set aside. 


To the remaining ghee, add grated coconut and 1 tbsp sugar. When the coconut is crisp and coated well with sugar, add cardamom powder. Switch off the stove. Set aside along with cashewnut-raisin mixture. 


Heat ghee in another pan,  add beaten egg and scramble it. Mix this with the above mixture. 


Rub oil in your hands. Make lime sized balls out of mashed bananas. Flatten it. Scoop out 1 tsp of the above coconut-cashewnut-raisin- egg mixture and place them in the centre. Shape them as shown above in the picture. 


Deep fry them in coconut oil till golden brown. Unakkaya makes a tasty snack.

Note:- 

• Plantain should not be overripe or underripe.
• Vegetarians can omit eggs from unakkaya and they still taste good.