Balehannu Rasayana is a delicacy from Karnataka and prepared for most festivals .
Baalehannu is banana and rasayana means essence. Very simple to make as there is no cooking involved and also not much of chopping and pre preparations. Rasayana is also known as Seehikarne or Seekarne .
If you haven't tried this delicious and flavorful vegan banana Salad, I suggest you must try this for sure and you will keep asking for more .
Rasayana is made for satyanarayana pooja , ganesh chaturthi or even during navaratri for prasadam. A similar version called Kelyache shikran is made in Maharashtra using milk and bananas . Poonam's blog has the perfect recipe for Shikran . Click here for the recipe.
Balehannu Rasayana tastes very well with dosa , chapathi and neer dosa . Rasayana is made in 3 variants depending on how the family likes .
One variant makes use of coconut milk ,jaggery ,bananas and cardamom powder and this is slightly liquid in nature while the dry version used jaggery powder ,grated coconut and some cardamom powder mixed with chopped bananas. I have always liked the dry variant as I have very vivid childhood memories associated with this delicious recipe my Amma and periamma would make for me. I ate this for the very first time when my perima made it using Elaichi or Elakki bananas. The natural cardamom flavor present in the bananas adds a lot of flavor to the Rasayana.
The color of the rasayana depends on the color of jaggery being used . You can also sugar if you want but I prefer using jaggery as it is healthy and also adds a rustic flavor to the Rasayana.
Cooking Time - nil
Complexity - easy
Serves - 3 to 4
Ingredients
2 tbsp grated coconut
3 to 4 tsp jaggery powder
Pinch of cardamom powder
Prepare the rasayana just before serving as the bananas will turn back and lose the taste. Also use firm and medium ripe bananas. Over ripe bananas are to be avoided
Method
- Remove the banana skin and chop into medium round slices
- Toss the chopped banana slices with jaggery, cardamom powder and coconut and serve immediately. DONOT REFRIGERATE.
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