BALEKAYI/PLANTAIN BONDA

Ingredients:
Balekayi/Plaintain - 1 medium sized
Batter:
Besan/Kadle hittu/Chickpea flour - 1 Cup
Rice flour/Corn flour/Corn starch - 1 Tbsp
Salt - 1 tsp
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Crushed ajwain - 1 tsp
Coriander cumin powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - a pinch [Optional]
hing - a pinch [Optional]
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp [Optional]


Method Of Preparation:
Roughly scrape the skin of balekayi. Wash it well.
Cut into your desired shape. [Round/Rectangle]. Make sure the pieces are not more than 1/2 inch in thickness.

Soak the pieces in salt water till you are ready to fry them. At least for 15 minutes, this allows them to soak up flavour. 

Prepare the bonda batter. 

Note: Plantains produce gas. I added ajwain and hing b'coz of this reason. You can leave them out. Read Here.

Note: I have noticed that adding soda will give bondas crunchiness. It tastes too good but makes bondas absorb oil.

Add all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and add 1/4 cup of water and make a paste. Make sure there are no lumps.

Now, add 1/2 Cup of water and make a thin paste. 

Note: Add water slowly. The thickness should be little thinner than milkshake. It should be thick enough to hold on to the pieces. Check for salt and spices. Add more if required. 

Heat oil in a pot for deep-frying.

Take out plantain pieces required for one batch from soaked water. Make sure you strain the water off from the pieces.

Dip each piece in bonda batter. Coat well and drop in hot oil carefully. Repeat the same.

Note: Do not over crowd. Less heat and more bondas will absorb oil and won't cook properly.

After a minute or two, turn the bondas around and let them fry for another 2 minutes.

Carefully remove the fried bondas. Place them on a plate lined with tissue to soak up extra oil.

Enjoy. :)