Diwali is around the corner and over the next few days I am going to be uploading one recipe everyday until Tuesday, 13th November 2012. On Friday, 9th November 2012, The Star Newspaper and Daily News will distribute my 30 recipe booklet compiled by me just for you…thanks and thanks again to My Spar for sponsoring this project!
This is one of my favourite Diwali treats – I am not sure why it is called banana puri since it does not contain or look like bananas!
Here is the recipe…..
Banana Puri
500ml Spar cake flour, sifted
2,5ml ground cardamom
75ml Spar butter
Pinch of salt
2,5ml baking powder
5ml lemon juice
200ml iced water
200ml Spar butter, melted
Cornflour for sprinkling
Spar sunflower oil, to fry banana puri
Tinted roasted almonds, to garnish
For the sugar syrup:
250ml Spar sugar
200ml cold water
1 cinnamon stick
25ml rose syrup
Here’s how
Mix the sifted cake flour, ground cardamom, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
Slice the butter into little cubes and rub into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add the lemon juice to the iced water.
Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add enough iced water to make a stiff dough.
Leave the dough to rest overnight (8 hours).
Divide the dough into eight portions and mould into smooth balls.
Use a rolling pin to work each portion into a paper thin round.
Dust the work surface with flour to prevent the dough from sticking.
Dust a large baking sheet with flour and place the first round on it.
Brush the round with melted butter ghee and then sift a tablespoon of cornflour over.
Pile the rounds on top of each other making sure that both sides of the rounds are brushed with butter ghee and dusted with cornflour except the top of the last round.
Gently roll out the pile and trim the edges.
Brush the top of the dough with melted butter ghee and then dust again with cornflour.
Roll up the dough tightly to form a swiss roll and slice the dough into 12 portions.
Place the sliced dough with the layers facing up and flatten at a 45 degree angle.
Roll the dough into an oval and fold the open edge over and press firmly to ensure its does not open when being fried.
Heat oil in a small pot on medium heat.
Fry the banana puri one at a time and gently spoon a little oil over the pastry. This helps to puff up the layers in the pastry.
Turn the pastry over and continue spooning oil over.
The banana puri should still be pale in colour when cooked.
Drain on a wire rack.
To make the syrup:
Combine the sugar, cold water and cinnamon stick in a pot. Cook on a medium heat stirring continuously until the sugar dissolves. Simmer until a thick syrup forms. Pour in the rose syrup and leave aside to cool slightly. Drizzle a little syrup over the banana puris and garnish with flaked almonds.
Yudhika’s Tips
The sugar must dissolve before it comes up to the boil as this would cause the syrup to crystallise.
If the banana puris start to open, use a slotted spoon to hold the pastry against the side of the pot. Once the pastry holds its shape it can be turned over.
Dust the banana puri with icing sugar instead of sugar syrup.
yudhikayumyum 
Banana Puri – How I miss this delightful treat, and as much as I would love to attempt to make it, the ingredients alone are a mission to find here in Korea and if lucky enough to find it, it will cost a fortune to buy it, so right now I will savor the memory of the taste…lol
Yummy
Thanks for this easy recipe, always wanted to attempt it but it seemed to daunting to try. Love banana puri, can’t wait to try! Thanks for inspiring us with your easy and delicious recipes!
Sounds delicious and perfect for someone who doesn’t like bananas. š Love your work Yudhika. xx
i really love your delightfull recipes tried and tested almost everyone that i could get hold of
Wonderful and easy banana puri recipe,Thanks š
Looks delicious
Bradley Arendse
This sounds delicious wow, i guess one would need a very good pan for this kind of delicate pastry.
This is exactly what i need to compliment our other AMC cookware, what a lovely product to cook with.
Hi Bradley – I use a small AMC cookware unit as you need to fry these one at a time! Its also easier to manage in a small pan. The butter and maizena sinks to the bottom of the pot so it does not feel like a huge waste when you turf out the used oil! So you see….size really does count!
OOOHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh YUMMY ROOMA ~ I love indian food and all the delights, thanks for sharing, Can’t wait to see what else is in store.. THANKS for sharing!!
Wow Yudika – Banana Puri (Kaja) as us charous know it (Usually filled in pots – indian weddings) – I actually dont remember when last I had some good banana puri – perhaps about 8 years ago since my mother-in-law passed on as she made the best banana puri. She was the head Chef at the ML Sultan Technikon Hostel in Alpine Road. She also studied food technology at ML Sultan Tec way back in time – I would love to have a “Taster” to be able to honour her. Also I have gone a bit retro and had installed a “Coal stove in my entertainment area at home and almost every weekend, the families get together to cook a meal on the “Coal stove” and the food tastes so much more different. We have immense pleasure using this stove.
Take Care
Ambers Sookraj
Ok! So I posted on your Blog. Do I qualify? š
Yayyyy! You do qualify for the competition!
Thanks for the amazing recipes Yudika , always an inspiration …š
This looks and sounds so delicious. Diwali is the part I miss the most about living in Durban (OH and the hot curry of course!). One of our good friends used to always send us the most amazing sweet treats at Diwali and we received those goodies with open arms and drooling mouths š The 16 inch AMC is perfect for making these. I am so wondering why these are called banana puri now…..will have to do some research and see what I come up with. Thank you for sharing Yudika xx
Simply love this Diwali Treat!
Gona make an effort to try it this year. Thanks for the recipe:-)
Thanks for the competition and thinking of ppl that can’t afford AMC cookware… haveing a change of winning AMC cookware <3.
What an interesting take on the usual banana puri. Was always afraid of making this, will try this out for Diwali, as this recipe sounds super.
The tasty yet bananalisious receipt sounds to good to be true but if tried wil definitely leave the most awson taste in your mouth, taking your taste buds to a whole new level of taste. Creating a smphony of high and low in your mouth thus confusing but delivery what the taste buds want.
This seems to be a real easy-plain and simple recipe ,i;’m sure it going to leave a impression on my friend face after making this,thanx
Love Diwali time, also fot the awesome treat and Banana Puri is my most favourite. š
i am definately going to try this recipe and a cpl more tonight, we are starting our diwali baking tonight :))) i cant wait its a wonderful time when my mom, sister and i bond in the kitchen, that’s what diwali is about bringing together families :)) love it.
wow this recipe is so awesome and quick n easy love the step by step..i have never attempted to make it in my entire life..but with this guide i will surely try it out…………..it got me motivated to go to try it……
the ingridents are so simple……….
missing durban thats where all the fun is….and i am so lissing for that banana puris
Once a DURBAN BOY always a DURBAN boy … oh how I miss the food ! And yea … 6 weeks back packing in India š …
looks simple going to give it a try
wow i’d love to try this since I’m not a banana lover. Always thought it had banana’s. Lol
YaY! ;Loving these recipes… I’m going to try and make my roommate feel like he’s home for Diwali =D
Thanks for the recipe Yudhika, however, i am not going to attempt, I will wait for Yudhika’s ready to buy Mithai range!
Best cookware on the market-taster looks like it will be at home in kitchen….
I always celebrate Diwali with my colleagues , with Delish banana puris , soo special
Mmmm great recipes. Would love to win the AMC Taster!
A most interesting article from Yudhika. Instead of marking my assessment scripts I have been reading and enjoying all the replies. I will be going shopping on Monday for supplies so that I can make these tasty treats. I am so sorry I missed the Star on Friday. Would it be possible to e-mail me a copy of the recipe book? PS I have had my set of AMC pots since 1975 and they are fantastic.
great recipe fantastic taste
Just love your recipes as they are easy to follow and the end product is suberb!!! Have always been an ardent follower of your Post Newspaper articles as well….
Great to hear from you, Rani! Happy cooking!
Yudhika, you rock! Your recipes are amazingly easy to follow and delicious. I tried some of your recipes from the newspaper and they were a hit with my family. Thanks again!
Diwali Treats by Yudhika – an Amazing Array of Super-Dupa Mouth Watering Sweetmeats -To Die For…Well my take is that Kwazulu Natal is affectionately know as the Banana Province.We had the Banana Boys Rugby team( and they did’t look like bananas) and Now we got the ” BANANA PURI ” Enjoy & Happy Diwali to the Rainbow Nation.
Lovely recipe, and hope to try it soon–wish i had got the paper on Frida
I have always loved Indian foods although some of the curries are too strong for me too eat,but by toning down the strength of the spices I can still enjoy your recipes and now can also attempt the sweet pastries an treats..thank you very much..
I know I’m not going to win the prize… haven’t tried your recipes YET>>>> The key is to “KISS”… Keep It Simple Stupid.. which I am….. “cos I got a mum called “google” … She is my sanity … not my PC… I am trying to keep it simple with picking what my family likes… Penda, Goolabs (isn’t Diwali without esp since mum and sis-in law doing burfee in 10 diff ways!), soji luddoo, peppermint & orange ice surprice, eggless choc chip cookies, chevda………. AND LOTS OF LOVE, HUGS, RUSHING AROUND WITH FESTIVITIES……….AND MEETING FOR TEA, COFFEE AND EATS GALORE AT THE RESIDENCE OF MY 92 (NINETY TWO) YEAR YOUNG (OLD) DHADHI ………
Wow this one of our family’s favourite and the only person that knew how to make banan puri was my late mum…..So heres my chance to try and keep it going…So going to try this recipe š
Yummy
Awesome recipe thanks. My favorite š
sounds very interesting will have to try it ! sending this one on to 2 bakers to try!
Just what I’m looking for. Thanx! Would be awesome to see it in a video š Pretty please
Promise I will get one done!
Thank you for the lovely recipes! Always helps when you leave everything to the last minute š
Yummy, one of my favourite Diwali treats…next year, I’m definitely trying this recipe…I made the gulab jamun’s yesterday, according to your recipe…they came out absolutely divine..taste of ‘home’
Am so sad I only heard about your delicious recipes now. But will definitely save them for next year. Tx š
OH dear,
Thankfully, we have festivals and celebrations throughout the year so I am sure you will use the recipes sooner than you think!
Lol, it takes somebody skilled to get that banana puri that perfect, soautiful! All I can say is, eating that wont be difficult at all! nom nom nom! I love ā¤ the Naan Khatai recipe! Going to give that a go right now! š Thank You!
Hello Nelisha…
Congratulations – you have won an AMC taster pan (!6cm)! Please email me your details and delivery address so I can make arrangements to get it to you. My email address is hetals@iafrica.com
Regards,
Yudhika
Thanks so much Yudhika! Especially for starting my much anticipated AMC Collection.. I still am in awe, really grateful. Thanks again.
Hi Nelisha,
Please email me your cellphone number. My address is hetals@iafrica.com
AMC Cookware need your contact number urgently. Regards, Yudhika
I’ve never tried making this, but I am determined to try it now. Thanks for the recipe.
Looks absolutely amazing. I’ll practice but it’ll take me a while to get this right. Awesome (:
This sound DEVINE for DIWALI š but also for a tea treat
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