Banana curry is a dish prepared with green bananas and spices usually. The dish may also be prepared with the ripened fruit occasionally where the sweet taste overwhelms the spices. While the green banana is curried in almost all regions of India, the Southern states of the country have more varieties of the dish. The curry is a part of everyday meals in Africa especially in Ghana and Tanzania, whereas it is also consumed in the Far Eastern countries of Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. The Caribbean islands are yet another region where the curry is extensively eaten.

The curried banana is also used to form a base of soups and salads in United States of America and may even be used as an ingredient of baked bread. A number of variations of the recipe has already been showcased on Food Network television channel. Balls made from boiled green bananas and potatoes are fried and curried in Northern India. This dish, known as Kele Ki Kofte, is served on festive occasions. 

The dish is relatively dry and can be served with either plain rice or chapatis, the Indian flatbread.

Overview of Banana Curry Recipes

The curry, popularly known as ‘Kele Ki Sabzi’ is prepared by boiling the pieces of unripe banana in salt water with turmeric added to it. This helps to prevent the bananas from turning black. Cumin seeds and whole garam masala powder are usually tempered in hot oil and the tender banana sautéed along with onion and ginger paste. Turmeric, chili, coriander and cumin powder are added subsequently and coarsely chopped tomatoes or yogurt is also used to cook the curry. The entire dish is cooked over medium heat after adding a little amount of water and removed from heat before the bananas turn mushy. It is served with a garnish of coriander usually.

The South Indian version makes use of curry leaves and mustard seeds along with whole red chilies for tempering the curry.

Popular Variations of Banana Curry Recipes

The curry dishes prepared with bananas vary greatly from region to region. The most popular ones amongst them are:-
 

• Sweet Banana Curry- A unique dish prepared with the traditional Indian spices, dried mango powder and sugar which are added to sliced, ripe bananas.
   
• Curried Plantains- A specialty of Caribbean islands, this dish is prepared with plantains and curry powder cooked in chicken broth.
   
• Kelewele- This is a traditional recipe from Ghana, prepared by marinating the plantain slices with curry powder and garlic along with ginger roots before frying them. The dish may be cooked in water or lemon juice and can also be served as a dry dish.

Trivia

Kalan is a special banana curry prepared during Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala.