NENDRAN KAYA CHIPS/KERALA BANANA CHIPS/NENDRANGAI VARATHATHU

Banana Chips is a popular snack of Kerala. This has been served at Onam Sadya and also as an evening snack with tea.  These chips are prepared with nendran variety of bananas and very easy to make. These are fried in coconut oil and sprinkled with salt water . They are also called “upperi’ or “kaya varathahu”. This is an important item in  Onam sadhya or during every festive occasions in Kerala.

INGREDIENTS

Nendrankai/Raw nendran plantain         - 3
Salt                                                                 - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder                                         - 1/4 tsp
Coconut oil or sunflower oil                       - for deep fryings
Slicer  or mandoline slicer

             

METHOD 

              Wash the plantains well and pat dry them.

              Make slits on the skin vertically, make sure u don’t go too deep and cut the                                 banana.

Now, with the hands, carefully remove the skin. (Save the skin and prepare  ethaka thoran with it.) For ethakai thoran recipe click to this link.

http://hottavasandovens.blogspot.in/2016/02/ethakka-tholi-thoran-raw-banana-peel.html

Put the peeled bananas into the turmeric water to prevent discolouration of bananas.

In a small bowl, add about 2 to 3 tsp of salt and ½ tsp turmeric powder, mix well and   keep aside.

Heat oil in a Kadai for deep frying

Once the oil is hot, reduce the flame to low, and  slice one or one and half of the banana directly into the oil  depending upon the quantity of oil and size of the kadai.

Now, increase the flame to medium  and fry, keep stirring once in a while.

Fry till the bubbles have almost stopped.

Now, reduce heat to low and add ½ tbsp of the salt  water to the oil, increase heat to medium and keep stirring till the spluttering sound stops.

Drain on to kitchen tissues, repeat the process with the remaining bananas

Cool completely in a tisuue paper and store in airtight container.

Nendrankaya chips are ready to serve.

NOTE 
After frying the first batch, taste and check for salt. If you feel it is salty, reduce the salt water to half tsp. If you feel, you need more salt, add 1 tsp salt water or you can add more salt to the water, mix it well and then add. It is your personal preference.
Store it in an air tight container at room temperature. Stays fresh and crisp for 7-8 days