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BANANA FLOWER CURRY(Sri Lankan recipe)

A banana flower recipe you’ll love making over and over again.

If you’ve never tried a banana flower curry then you are in for a treat.

This banana flower(banana heart)recipe is also known as “keselmuwa curry” in Sinhalese.

I will show you how to cook the banana blossom the correct way.

banana flower(banana blossom)

Banana blossom and banana heart are some names used in reference to what we more commonly call the banana flower.

If you are wondering what a banana flower is,

Well, it’s the first stage of the banana you consume.

The banana flower left to grow through its natural stages would ultimately turn into these fruits that we love. 

When you first come across the banana flower you might find it confusing as to which part of the fruit is to be cooked. 

I’ll be making it easy for you to cook the banana heart(blossom, flower whatever you like to call it).

A step-by-step guide on how to clean, prepare and make this Sri Lankan recipe.

It’s like unwrapping a gift, layers of it have to be removed to get to the part that’s cooked.

banana flower curry in a banana leaf with wedges of lime.

What to serve with this banana flower curry

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A Sri Lankan dish made from banana flowers/blossom, placed in a clay pot with sliced lime on it.

Utensils and appliances needed

  • Chopping board/ knife
  • Large bowl.
  • Large strainer(you can also use your hands to squeeze out excess water).
  • Skillet or frying pan.
A Sri Lankan dish made from banana flowers/blossom. here's a step-by-step guide on how to make a delicious, vegan, vegetarian"kesel muwa"curry.. #banana flower #keselmuwa #vegan #vegetarian #glutenfree #srilankan

Where to find banana flowers?

If you live in an Asian country finding banana flowers is easy as most supermarkets and open vegetable markets sell them and they are very cheap. 

  • Workflow to make banana flower stir-fry.
    • Clean, remove and discard the parts of the banana heart that you won’t use.
    • Chop it into fine pieces.
    • Soak in water for 5 minutes, strain, and squeeze out the liquid.
    • Cook the banana as per the instructions below.

Check all the Asian stores, especially the Sri Lankan, Indian and Thai stores. you might also be able to find the canned version.

  • Cooking time to make the banana blossom curry.
    • Preparing the banana blossom to make the curry is where most of your time would be spent.
    • If you are not familiar with the preparation process of the banana flower it would take you about 10-15 minutes. cooking time will be roughly another 15-20 minutes.
More banana flower recipes

Banana flower fry

Storing, freezing, and reheating

This vegetarian vegan curry is best eaten within a few hours of cooking. avoid freezing, reheating, or refrigeration.

RECIPE DIFFICULTY-LITTLE CARE IS NEEDED

    Ingredients to cook the banana flower

    The ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.

    2-3 cups of water

    4 tablespoons of Oil(extra 2 tablespoons of oil needed later in the cooking)

    1 teaspoon of turmeric powder(1/2 teaspoon for soaking the chopped banana flower/ 1/2 a teaspoon used for tempering)

    5-6 curry leaves(substitute with a bay leaf)

    1 onion, sliced fine

    1/2 tsp  red Chilie flecks (reduce or increase as per your need)

    1 tbsp Maldive Fish (optional)

    1 green chillie sliced

    1 banana flower cleaned and chopped as per the instructions given.

    1/2 tsp red chilli powder (reduce or increase as per your need)

    1 tablespoon of tamarind juice(not paste which is much more concentrated and needs to be diluted with water. you can substitute with a tablespoon of lime juice)

    Salt to taste

    How to cook Banana flower curry

    The first step of making the banana flower recipe is, cleaning and chopping it for the banana flower recipe.

    How to clean the Banana blossom

    Wash the banana flower.

    image of a banana flower on a black tray.

    Remove the darker outer layers of the banana flower, including the bottom part which later turns into bananas.

    You can actually add these flowers to the curry by removing the stigma within it but I usually discard them.

    image of a banana flower with the cleaning process.

    A little too much work considering how small and how time-consuming it is.

    image of a banana flower with the leaves peeled off.

    Continue to remove the layers.

    Until you come across the part that doesn’t have flowers attached to it. 

    As you chop the flower, you’ll notice a sap sticking to your hands so make sure to rub some oil before you start chopping the banana flower.

    image of banana flower with the small flowers taken off

    Cut off the stem(bottom)and chop the flower into smaller, thinner strips.

    How to cut the banana heart for the recipe

    Have a bowl ready with water, salt, and turmeric(1/2 tsp)added to it.

    Place the washed and cleaned(as directed above)on a chopping board.

    Cut the top and bottom parts of the banana flower. cut them into thin rounds, stack them and then chop them into small thinner pieces.

    Please be careful as you chop them as your fingers will probably be a little too close to the sharp knife as you try to slice them thin.

    As you chop, add the banana flower pieces immediately into the turmeric water to avoid discolouration.

    Soak for 5 minutes.

    chopped banan flower blossom soaked in a bowl of water to m ake the banana blossom recipe.

    Once you’ve chopped the blossom,

    Use a large strainer to strain the chopped flower from the water.

    Squeeze any excess water and transfer to a bowl. 

    You might find, getting all the tiny pieces out of your hand a bit tricky but with a little patience, you can do it.

    draining the chopped banana blossom to cook the banana blossom recipe.
    How to prepare Sri Lankan banana flower curry

    Have all the ingredients needed ready.

    ingredients to make the banana flower curry. kesel muwa.

    Place a pan over medium heat.

    Pour in oil(2 tbs), then temper curry leaves(5-6), and onion(1)until they turn golden in colour.

    tempering onions, chillie powder, green chillie, turmeric to make the banana flower curry.

    Reduce heat to low add chilli powder(1/2tsp), turmeric(1/2 tsp), chilli flecks(1/2 tsp), green chillie(1), and cook for 3 minutes.

    tempering the onions in a pan to make the banana blossom recipe.

    Turn heat to low and add the banana flowers to the pan.

    Combine and cook for 5 minutes or until it’s cooked.

    adding the chopped banana blossom into the tempered ingredients to make the banana blossom recipe.

    Add 2 tablespoons of oil only if needed and further cook the chopped banana blossom.

    Pour in the tamarind(1 tbs) and cook for a few minutes(3-5 minutes).

    cooking the chopped banana blossom .

    Taste and season with salt if necessary.

    Serve warm with your favourite rice and curry menu.

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    Sri Lankan banana flower(kesel muwa)stir-fry.

    Yield: 4
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes

    A banana flower recipe you’ll love making over and over again.

    If you’ve never tried a banana flower curry then you are in for a treat.

    In this banana flower(banana heart)recipe is also known as “keselmuwa curry” in Sinhalese.

    I will show you how to cook the banana blossom the correct way.

    Ingredients

    • Ingredients mentioned below use standard measuring cups and spoons.
    • 2-3 cups of water
    • 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder(1/2 teaspoon for soaking the chopped banana flower/ 1/2 a teaspoon used for tempering).
    • 4 tablespoons of Oil(extra 2 tablespoons of oil needed later in the cooking)
    • 5-6 Curry leaves
    • 1 Onion, sliced fine
    • 1/2 tbsp red chilli Powder
    • 1/2 tsp red Chilli flecks
    • 1 tbsp Maldive Fish (optional)
    • 1 green chillies sliced
    • 1 banana flower cleaned and chopped as per instructions above
    • 1 tablespoon of tamarind juice(not paste which is much more concentrated and needs to be diluted with water)
    • Salt to Taste

    Instructions

    1. The first step of making the banana flower recipe is, cleaning and chopping it for the banana flower recipe.

    How to clean the Banana blossom.

    1. Wash the banana flower.
    2. Remove the darker outer layers of the banana flower, including the bottom part which later turns into bananas.
    3. You can actually add these flowers to the curry by removing the stigma within it but I usually discard them.
    4. A little too much work considering how small and how time-consuming it is.
    5. Continue to remove the layers.
    6. Until you come across the part which doesn’t have flowers attached to it. 
    7. As you chop the flower, you’ll notice a sap sticking to your hands so make sure to rub some oil before you start chopping the banana flower.
    8. Cut off the stem(bottom)and chop the flower into smaller, thinner strips.

    How to cut the banana heart for the recipe.

    1. Have a bowl ready with water, salt, and turmeric(1/2 tsp)added to it.
    2. Place the washed and cleaned(as directed above)on a chopping board.
    3. Cut the top and bottom parts of the banana flower. cut them into thin rounds, stack them and then chop them into small thinner pieces.
    4. Please be careful as you chop them as your fingers will probably be a little too close to the sharp knife as you try to slice them thin.
    5. As you chop, add the banana flower pieces immediately into the turmeric water to avoid discolouration.
    6. Soak for 5 minutes.
    7. Once you’ve chopped the blossom,
    8. Use a large strainer to strain the chopped flower from the water.
    9. Squeeze any excess water and transfer to a bowl. 
    10. You might find, getting all the tiny pieces out of your hand a bit tricky but with a little patience, you can do it.

    How to prepare Sri Lankan banana flower curry.

    1. Have all the ingredients needed ready.
    2. Place a pan over medium heat.
    3. Pour in oil(2 tbs), then temper curry leaves(5-6), and onion(1)until they turn golden in colour.
    4. Reduce heat to low add chilli powder(1/2tsp), turmeric(1/2 tsp), chilli flecks(1/2 tsp), green chillie(1), and cook for 3 minutes.
    5. Turn heat to low and add the banana flowers to the pan.
    6. Combine and cook for 5 minutes or until it’s cooked.
    7. Add 2 tablespoons of oil only if needed and further cook the chopped banana blossom.
    8. Pour in the tamarind(1 tbs) and cook for a few minutes(3-5 minutes).
    9. Taste and season with salt if necessary.
    10. Serve warm with your favourite rice and curry menu.

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    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 173Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 220mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 3g

    Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

    Did you make this recipe?

    Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

    Each recipe on this blog has been written with great care and love to the best of my ability with you in mind.
    It’s free and on the blog, for you to try anytime.

    All I ask is that you do not save it on any apps, recipe boxes, or online groups which will affect me as a food blogger and the growth of this blog. 

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    Annette

    Friday 15th of January 2021

    So detailed and practical thanks

    jehan

    Saturday 16th of January 2021

    Hello Annette, Thank you for your kind words, glad the detailed recipe is helpful. Regards, J

    K

    Sunday 1st of December 2019

    Still no tamarind info! :)

    jehan

    Sunday 1st of December 2019

    Hi, Apologies, I went through the recipe and haven't mentioned using tamarind at any point. confused, please do let me know so I can rectify if I've mentioned tamarind but not the quantity. thanks.

    k

    Sunday 14th of July 2019

    This turned out very delicious! You didn't mention how much tamarind to put or in what form, but I guessed and it worked ok. Thank you!

    jehan

    Sunday 14th of July 2019

    Thank you for letting me know, I will make sure to add the amount.

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