Raw Banana Recipes | Vazhakkai Recipes

Collection of Raw Banana recipes. Raw Banana or Plantain or Vazhakkai (as it is called in Tamil) is widely used in Indian cuisine, especially in South Indian states and Eastern Indian states. There are many recipes we make with plantains. Get 10 vegetarian recipes that you can make with these unripe green plantains.

About Raw Banana Recipes

Like coconut and chana dal plant, the entire banana plant is used in various ways. Example, banana leaves are used to serve food and make an eco friendly disposable option.

Banana flower and banana stem are also used in making various recipes. Banana fibre is used to make plates, bowls and also fabric.

Banana and all its parts which can be consumed are healthy. e.g banana flower is very nutritious and used to make some recipes. Example Banana Flower Vada. I have also shared a detailed post on How to clean and cut Banana Flower.

In fact I also make a few recipes with banana stems, but I have not yet added them on website. With raw unripe bananas or vazhakkai many recipes can be made.

In this collection I am sharing recipes which are exclusively made with raw banana and the recipes where raw banana is one of the ingredient.

In case you are interested in sweet and ripe banana recipes then I have also shared a collection or roundup of 21 Ripe Banana Recipes.

When you use unripe green bananas, you have to peel the skins. But do you know that the green skins are edible, nutritious and tasty as well. Instead of trashing them, prepare the Kerala style preparation of thoran with these peels.

Made in coconut oil, with some onions, herbs, spices and a good dose of coconut, Banana Peel Thoran is a dish that you will like. I have shared the recipe below of this lovely dish. You can have a look incase you want to use up the raw banana peels.

Raw Banana Recipes

Recipes with Plantain as one of the ingredient

About Banana Peel Thoran

If you’ve ever cooked any raw unripe banana recipe, you’ll know exactly how the flavors in the Banana Peel Thoran too will be.

Banana peel recipes are as it easy to make, and so is this preparation too. But don’t be settled with the simplicity of this recipe, as it packs a punch of tastes and textures in it.

Though I have altered this Banana Peel Thoran recipe a bit, and it is a mix of both traditional and my own version.

Also, the classic recipes have fresh coconut ground coarsely with cumin seeds and green chilies in them. But you could add coconut without grinding. In the absence of fresh coconut, you could even use desiccated coconut.

The recipe is made in coconut oil. You can also cook the dish in any preferred oil, if you are averse to the flavor of coconut oil.

Since I am a huge fan of all things coconut, I paired this Banana Peel Thoran with just some steamed rice without even having anything else as an accompaniment.

It was a satisfying meal for sure. So much that I usually have it like this only. You may serve it with Sambar, Rasam and rice too.

Ingredients

• peels removed from 4 medium sized unripe green bananas
• 1 small onion or 2 to 3 pearl onions – chopped
• 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 green chili, chopped
• 1 dry red chili, seeds removed
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated coconut or desiccated coconut
• 10 to 12 curry leaves
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or any neutral tasting oil

Method

• First rinse the bananas. When removing the peels, soak them in a bowl of water, so that they don’t darken.
• You can also soak them in water in which about ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder is added.
• Slice the black dark spots from the peels if there are any and chop them finely.
• Heat coconut oil in a pan. First crackle the mustard seeds on low heat.
• Add the chopped onion or shallots. Sauté till the onions are transparent.
• Now add the red chili, green chili, cumin powder, asafoetida/hing, and curry leaves.
• Sauté for a few seconds. Add the turmeric powder and stir to combine.
• Add the banana peels and the coconut. If using fresh coconut, then coarsely ground the grated coconut, green chilies and cumin seeds and add it at this stage.
• Sprinkle salt and stir. Add about ¼ or ⅓ cup water. Cover the pan and let the peels cook till they are soft and tender.
• Check in between to see the doneness and also to see if the thoran has not dried up whilst cooking.
• Add some more water if required if the peels are still not done and cover and cook further.
• When the peels are cooked and if there is some moisture or water in the pan, then just dry it on low heat.
• Serve the Banana Peel Thoran hot with some steamed rice, accompanied with dal, sambar and rasam.

This Raw Banana Recipes collection from the blog archives, first published in February 2018 has been republished and updated on December 2022.