Pulivaaral/ Tamarind shaped Snack

Chai time means snack time. I am usually not too fond of sweet snacks when having tea. But this one is an exception. ( I just decrease the amount of sugar in my tea, as anyways I wouldn’t be able to make out the difference; if the chai has sugar or not, when having sweet snack with chai. Pulivaaral; Puli means tamarind and vaaral means to pull, so basically it is a fried dough, more like Kerala Churros, well that's what my sister likes to call it! :D Though the snack has nothing to do with Puli (tamrind), the shape demonstrates otherwise. They are traditionally made with mysore banana or any ripened cheru pazham (small banana), but I have used robust variety here, as in the gulf, the robust ones are easily available , yet the final product tastes the same, anyhow.

Traditionally my grandmother and my hub's grandmother, they squeeze the dough through their hands and pull into long strips, and fried until brown. It is not easy to get it right with bare hands, you need practice. So most of the new generation use piping bags to easily squeeze the dough to the hot oil. Hub's grandmother is an expert in making them, this may not be anywhere close to hers, and this is my version, more on the crisper side, as I like it that way. The ripe bananas are Mashed and sugar is added as a sweetener, and flours like whole wheat flour and roce flour are added too. 

Rice flour gives the pulivaaral the extra crisp, so make sure you don't add it too much. I have demonstrated here a small batch with just one banana, you may prepare a large batch. I like to fry my pulivaaral in coconut oil, which adds an extra flavor to it. Though they do not look quite appealing, everyone, including kids will love it and you get to save an over ripe banana, so it's a win-win situation!

Ingredients:

• 1 Large ripe Robust Banana/any small banana like mysore banana (8-9 pieces)*
• 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Wheat Flour
• 2 tbsp Rice Flour
• Cardamom powder, a pinch
• Salt, as required
• Coconut oil, to fry

Instructions :

1. Mash the ripe banana and make to a paste.
2. Add sugar, wheat flour, rice flour, a pinch of cardamom powder and salt.
   
   
   
3. Now incorporate all ingredients well and form a semi loose dough.
4. Now using a piping bag, fill the contents into it.
5. In a large flat base pan, pour coconut oil and pipe into long stick shapes directly over hot oil, be careful while doing this. 
   
   
   
6. Fry until brown and store in casserole for retaining heat. Enjoy with a cup of chai.
   
   
   

Notes: 

*If using 8-9 small bananas, use 1/2 cup wheat flour and around 4 tbsp rice flour.

If you feel the batter is a bit too loose you may add some more wheat flour.

 

Do try this recipe and don't forget to share your experience/feedback with me here in the comments or feel free to send me a mail. Also, do tag me at #taystedit if you try out my recipes on Facebook, Instagram etc so that I can see when you make it. ♡♡♡♡