Banana is such a fruit the tree of which is used in totality – root, stem, flower and fruit. All tastes great and all have different ways to cook or eat. I love Mocha or Banana Flower a lot. Though it’s truly time consuming to wash, clean, cut and then boil before actual cooking starts, I feel it’s worth every effort I’m putting in. Today I decided to make Mocha’r Kofta or Banana Flower Balls curry. This particular dish is very common in West Bengal state of India. Vegetarians love the dish and best enjoyed with steamed rice. It doesn’t go too well with Roti or Indian Bread. It’s an accompaniment with the main meal. Best enjoyed over lunch I feel.

Course – Main meal

Cuisine – Indian specially West Bengal

Author – Madhu’s Kitchen

Serves – 2 people

Difficulty level – Moderate

Preparation time – 1day 1 hour, Cooking time -30 mins

Ingredients

1 Mocha

1/4 cup Chana Dal soaked overnight and made into a paste

1/2 Tbsp ginger paste and more for later use

1 Tbsp cumin powder

1 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup yoghurt

1/4 cup mustard oil

Salt as per taste

Method

Wash the Mocha. Peel the skin and set the flowers aside in a bowl. Once done clean the flowers again and part the inside to the flower and discard the pollen and a plastic white petal attached to it. Do this for the entire lot and it will take time. Once done wash again. In a big bowl boil water and add the cut small flowers. Boil and set aside. Cool and extract the water by pressing the Mocha in your hands together. Make a paste of Chana Dal in a blender. Mix the Dal to the Mocha and mix well. Add 1 tsp ginger paste, cumin powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well. In a big bowl boil water and add the bowl with Mocha-Dal mix to it. On a low heat boil until the Mocha sets. Set aside. Cool and make balls and set aside. In a wok heat oil fry the Mocha Kofta and set aside. In the same wok heat oil, add cumin seeds, bay leaf and add cumin powder, red chilli powder, ginger paste and cook for 5 mins. Add beaten yoghurt and stir well. Add salt and add 1/4 cup water. Stir and add the fried Mocha Kofta’s. The consistency should be dry. Once cooked sprinkle roasted cumin powder and cover. Enjoy with steamed rice