Monday, May 2, 2011

Unnakai - Ripe plantain filled with dates and nuts

I had given up dreams of wearing flip flops. Then Saturday happened. Glorious sunlight and suddenly everything seemed possible. We found out state parks and walkways near by and marauded them. Breathed fresh air and drank in the verdant beauty all around. Hm...! Nice. Am I glad or am I glad! I wore my flip flops too.

Unnakai

The fruity treat today called unnakai is a Malabar specialty. I have seen it in many blogs and had to try it myself. We are huge fans of plantains at home so decided it won't go waste. Making a sweet treat is quite a hefty decision these days. It's no good for me but my husband loves them. The only balance I can strike is to make only for him and resist it myself but that is asking a lot. But with plantains I decided its going to be okay. And it sure is. I have stayed away from the coconut filling which traditionally is the filling and instead used dates and cashews.

Unnakai

They are delectable
Unnakai

They are irresistible. If I say so myself!

Unnakai

Ingredients:

Plantain – 2, cut into four pieces, skin on.
Dates – 15
Water – ¼ cup
Cashews – 10 – 15
Brown sugar – ¼ cup
Butter – 1 tspn
Oil – to shallow fry

Method:
1. Make slits over the plantain peel randomly making sure the gashes are ‘skin deep’
2. Steam it to soften
3. Cool, peel and cut each piece lengthwise and seed them.
4. Mash to a pulp
5. Stew the dates for about 5 minutes. Remove from the liquid and chop into fine pieces.
6. Chop the cashew and sauté in 1 tspn butter and add the dates and brown sugar and switch off the heat. Set it aside
7. Make 8 equal parts of the mashed plantain.
8. Grease your hands with oil, take one part plantain into your hand, flatten it, and fill with enough date and cover over the plantain to make cylindrical shapes. Follow with the rest of the plantain and set aside
9. Heat a pan for shallow frying, add about 4 tbspn of oil, and slide in the shaped plantain. Turning carefully brown on all sides. Serve as a dessert.

36 comments:

  1. so delicious dates and cashews wow wonderful to snack

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  2. I wanted to do this for loooooooooooooooooooong time. As of now i will drool at ur picture..looks so so yumm :)

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  3. That sounds like such an authentic recipe n looks so intriguing- thanks for sharing :)
    US Masala

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  4. This has come out superb...drooling over your pics...

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  5. Banana, cashews and dates.. lovely combo:) Awesome pics ... droolworthy as ever:)
    Reva

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  6. This is a 'truly tempting' snack...So sweet!

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  7. This is totally new to me...looks very tempting

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  8. looks good,,yummy,,,i 'll try it,,,

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  9. Loved the plantain fry dear. Also the fillings made it even more inviting.
    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  10. Long since I had some unnakai....Tempting clicks...I haven't tried adding dates in the filling...sounds even more tempting

    http://panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

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  11. Looks damn tempting wid d filling...yummy...

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  12. nice recipe...ammayude orma vennu...

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  13. Pefect for evening snacks.. Love this filling..

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  14. wow dear love the filling with dates...also appreciate that u did not add scrambled egg white..into the filling...i do not like egg in the filling...love the way u made it

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  15. quite a nice recipe....n' the snaps looks divine as always...:)

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  16. Very tempting snacks,loved it...

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  17. My all time fav.. Should have tasted great with the dates and cashew filling...

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  18. Wat an authentic dish,simply inviting..

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  19. Yum !!! That sounds so great !!!

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  20. i have never tasted them surely looks delectable!

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  21. New to me but looks really yummy.

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  22. Loved the filling,looks delicious dear,my favorite

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  23. Looks delicious and very tempting!

    www.appetitetreats.com

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  24. This is so inviting and tempting..
    Seeing a lot of yummy looking snacks today.. Tempting me to make something for us!
    http://krithiskitchen.blogspot.com
    Breakfast Club - Pancakes - Roundup

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  25. I so very much love unnakai, but never really tried ti make them myself!this looks delicious, Sunitha

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  26. I have never heard of this, but it sounds delicious. I'll have to give it a try very very soon. I've got a perfectly ripe plantain begging to be used!

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  27. first time here .... u have a nice space .... lovely pictures ... visit mine when time permits .. happy to follow u ...

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  28. What a fabulous dessert with plantain - I have never heard of this altho I boast to have Many malu friends in the past and presently :(, but then I guess not too many of them are foodies !
    Awesome, mm mmm good recipe!

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  29. yumm, that looks delicious,

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  30. I just bought some plantains yesterday and was wondering what I should do with them. This is a great idea, surely inspiration for whatever creation I come up with!

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  31. this is too yummy n delish!..love the nutty filling
    Smitha
    Smitha's Spicy Flavors

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  32. Plaintain fritters they look awesome.

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  33. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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