Plantain Coconut Sweet / Unnakkai / Kaayada

This is a famous snack of the malabaris and keralites now, one of the most important snacks during the holy month of Ramadan. This is rich in coconut n plantain or ethakka which is high in Vitamin A n fibre. Plaintain is rich in solids and low in water content hence a must for kidsto give them energy.. contains egg too! If given in the form of Unnakkai, am sure they wud grab it.. :) Very easy n tasty rich snack indeed.

Ingredients :

Ripe Plantain: 3 large nos.

Grated coconut : 2 cups

Egg : 2

Ghee : 1 tbspn

Sugar : 1 tbspn or as required

Cardamom powder : 1 tspn

Cashew nuts : 1 tbspn

Raisins : a few if u like it..

Oil : 3 tbspn

• Steam plantains with a little water and allow it to cool. 
• Peel off, remove the black seeds in the middle, mash it very well with ur hands, without lumps, make small balls of it  and keep aside.
• Fry the cashews n raisins in ghee and remove them once done. 
• Add grated coconut n sugar into the ghee n keep on stirring under low flame to avoid getting stuck to bottom, until it turns golden brown. Check taste n add sugar if required.
• Scramble egg over it and mix very well. Add cardamom powder n stir it. 
• Add the fried cashews n raisins n switch off the flame. Keep aside to cool.
• Apply a little oil on ur palms, take a ball of plantain n press between ur palms to resemble a puri, stuff them with the coconut mix we prepared earlier. 
• Close ur hand by joining ends to give unnakkais the shape of ur closed hand. Join all edges so that while frying, it doesn't open up. Do the same with all the tiny plantain balls. 
• Heat oil in a pan n deep fry each of these until golden brown, under medium flame. Serve afresh! 

Tip: At times, it so happens that the steamed plantains doesn't have a stiffness and hence, it doesn't remain in its shape. But I add a little rice flour or all purpose flour along with it while mashing to get a thickness. And it comes out well!