Mocha Ghanto (Banana Flower)

This is a traditional Bengali dish (Bengali / Bangladeshi recipe) which can be found among the East Indian vegetarian recipes. A step-by-step recipe of the same is given below.

Ingredients:

• Whole size banana flower (Mocha) - 1.
• Wheat flour (maida) - 1 tsp.
• Green chilies - 3.
• Bay leaf - 2.
• Cumin powder - 1 tsp.
• Cumin seed + Coriander seed - 1 tsp.
• Red chilli powder - ½ tsp.
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp.
• Garam masala (powder) - 1 tsp.
• Coconut - ½ (grated).
• Oil - 3 tbsp.
• Salt to taste.
• Ghee (clarified butter) - 2 tsp.
• Water around 225 ml.

Methods:

1. Remove hard cover of banana flower (Mocha), keeping aside each bunch of flowers. Remove from each flower the hard stem and the hard white covering at base. After chopping each bunch finely wash them in water.
2. Put the chopped mocha in a pressure cooker with 1½ cup water, close the lid. Place the cooker on maximum heat until full cooking pressure. Then reduce to medium heat and cook around 4-5 minutes. Open cooker immediately after releasing steam pressure. Drain water from the contents, keep aside.
3. Heat oil in a kadai (oak). Fry cumin seeds and coriander seeds for 1 minute.
4. Add green chillies, cumin powder, bay leaves, and turmeric powder fry till brown. Add strained mocha (banana flower), grated coconut, salt, and mix thoroughly. Add half cup water and cook for 4-5 minutes with frequent stirring.
5. Take ½ cup hot water and mix maida in it. Pour this to the above. Sprinkle garam masala powder and ghee on the top uniformly. Mix well in the kadai itself.

Mocha Ghanto is ready. Serve hot with plain Rice, Paratha or Roti (plain bread).