Mochar chop or banana blossom croquettes. A deep fried delicious snack.
Vitamin and mineral rich banana blossom or flower called mocha in Bengal. Its not only nutritious but also delicious.
Sharing my mother’s recipe today.
I have already shared a traditional Bengali recipe mochar ghono or banana blossom dry curry. Get the recipe here.
The banana tree is the ideal to look up to when it comes to a ‘no wastage’ policy! Almost all parts of the banana tree can be used. The most obvious is the fruit—bananas that we eat almost daily. But, other parts of the tree also offer many health benefits!
Both the South Asians and Southeast Asians use banana flowers as a vegetable. They use it either raw or steamed with dips. They also use those in soups, curries and fried foods. The flavor resembles that of artichoke. Like artichokes, both the fleshy part of the bracts and the heart are edible.
Banana flowers are called banana hearts for a reason! These flowers are pretty, but you should not dismiss them as merely decorative elements. They have a host of health benefits too!
Some of the health benefits of banana flowers are:
Wards Off Infections: …
Reduces Free Radical Activity: …
Reduces Menstrual Bleeding: …
Manages Diabetes And Anemia: …
Rich Source Of Vitamins And Minerals: …
Boosts Mood And Reduces Anxiety: …
Helps Nursing Mothers:
Source
Now here is a delicious deep fried snack banana blossom croquettes or mochar chop.
You have to oil your hands before cleaning and chopping to avoid stain on your hands due to high iron content.
Recipe
Mocha or banana blossom – 1 small
Turmeric powder – 1 teaspoon
Boiled potatoes – 3 large
Green chilli – 2 – 3 chopped
Ginger – 1 inch piece, grated
Mustard oil – 2 teaspoon
Cumin seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder – 1 teaspoon
Bhaja moshla or roasted spice powder – 1 & 1/2 teaspoon, get the recipe of bhaja moshla here
Chaat masala powder – 1 teaspoon
Sugar – 1 teaspoon or to taste
Peanut – handful, roasted
Breadcrumb – 2 tablespoon
For batter
Cornflour – 2 tablespoon
Water – 1/3 cup
Breadcrumb and refined flour or maida for coating
Oil for deep fry
Water – 1 & 1/2 cup
Method
1. Get the method of cleansing and chopping banana blossom here
2. Soak the chopped florets in the water with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon turmeric powder overnight.
3. Next day boil the chopped florets in pressure cooker with 1 & 1/2 cup water for 3 – 4 whistle or cook on high flame for 1 whistle then cook on simmer for 10 – 15 minutes.
4. Let it cool down. Drain the water and wash again in running tap water.
Squeeze all the water.
5. Peel and mash or grate the potatoes.
6. Dry roast and peel the peanuts. Break the peanut into half.
7. Heat 2 teaspoon mustard oil in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
8. Add grated ginger and chopped green chili. Fry till the raw smell goes out.
9. Add squeezed banana blossom or mocha. Saute until dried up completely.
10. Add boiled and mashed potatoes salt, sugar, bhaja moshla or dry roasted and ground spices, chaat masala and cumin powder.
11. Mix well and saute till everything mixed nicely.
12. Add dry roasted peanut, mix and remove from heat and let it cool down.
13. In a bowl mix refined flour or maida and water. Mix water gradually and make a lump free batter.
14. In a plate spread breadcrumb and in another plate spread maida or refined flour.
15. Add 2 tablespoon breadcrumb in the banana blossom and potato mixture. Mix well with hand.
16. Make 7 – 8 balls. Make them round patties or give cylindrical shape.
17. Roll them on refined flour or maida then dip into the cornflour batter.
18. Roll on the breadcrumbs.
19. Make all the chop or croquettes like this.
20. Fry immediately or you can keep these in refrigerator and fry later.
21. Heat sufficient oil in a pan or wok.
Fry all the chop or croquettes. Stir gently with a slotted spatula. Fry evenly from all the sides.
22. Remove from oil and place on pepper towel.
Serve hot with kasundi or Bengali mustard sauce, tomato sauce or any sauce.
Enjoy…..
Notes
1. If you want you can add fried sliced onion in the croquettes. Or fry the onion slices with ginger and green chilli.
2. You can add raisins or chopped cashew nuts with peanut.
3. Add green chilli according to your taste. You can increase or decrease the amount of chillies.
4. You can add chopped and fried coconut pieces in the banana blossom potato mixture.
If you tried my recipe, you can share your food pictures with me in the social network sites by using hash tag, #batterupwithsujata
I would love to see your creations.
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