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” stir-fry. 

Banana flower, what is it?

Banana blossom, banana heart these 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, the banana flower left to grow through its natural stages would ultimately turn into these fruits that we love. 

For this recipe though, we are actually going to use the flower to make the kesel muwa stir-fry.

It’s a healthy, nutritious option for vegans, vegetarian.

Us, Sri Lankans just like to eat it because honestly?

It tastes really good with rice and curry.

When you first come across the banana flower you might find it confusing as to which part of the fruit is to be cooked. 
It’s like unwrapping a gift, layers of it have to be removed to get to the part that’s cooked.

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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.

Meal ideas to use with banana flower stir-fry.

You can include the Sri Lankan banana flower curry with any of the meal plans mentioned here.

meal plan 1,

meal plan 2,

meal plan 3 or come up with your own rice and curry menu.

Workflow to make banana flower stir-fry.

• Clean, remove and discard the parts of the banana flower that you won’t use.
• Chop the banana flower to fine pieces.
• Soak in water for 5 minutes, strain, squeeze out the liquid.
  
• Cook the banana as per instruction below.

How to clean and prepare Banana flower

for cooking.

Wash the banana flower.

Remove the darker outer layers of the banana flower, including the flowers at the bottom which later turn into bananas.

You can actually add these flowers to the curry by removing the stigma within it but I usually discard them. a little too much work considering how small and how time-consuming it is.

Continue to remove the layers.

Until you come across the part which 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.

Cut off the stem and chop the banana flower. then soak the chopped pieces in water with salt and turmeric until used.

Sri Lankan

banana flower

curry

(kesel muwa).

1 banana flower cleaned and chopped as per instructions above

Salt to Taste

Method.

How to prepare the banana flower for the kesel muwa stir-fry.

Have a bowl ready with water, salt and turmeric added to it.
Clean and chop the banana blossom(see how to clean banana blossom above).
Add the chopped banana blossom into the turmeric water, soak for 5 minutes.

Use a large strainer to strain all the flower blossoms from the water, squeeze any excess water and transfer the chopped banana blossoms to a bowl. 

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

Cooking the kesel muwa stir-fry.

Place a pan over medium heat.

Pour in oil, then temper curry leaves, onions until they turn golden in colour.
Reduce heat to low add chilli powder, turmeric, chilli flecks, green chillies, cook for 3 minutes.

Turn heat to low and add the banana flowers to the pan, combine and cook for 5 minutes or until the banana flower is cooked.

Add 2 tablespoons of oil and further cook the chopped banana flowers, pour in the tamarind and cook for a few minutes(3-5 minutes)

Taste and season with salt if necessary.

Serve warm with your favourite rice and curry menu.

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Yield: 4

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

Print

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” STIR-FRY.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

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 (optional)
• 1 Onion, sliced fine
• 1/2 tbsp red chilli Powder
• 1/2 tsp red Chilli flecks
• 1 tbsp Maldive Fish (optional)
• 1-2 green chillies sliced
• 1 banana flower cleaned and chopped as per instructions above
• Salt to Taste

Instructions

How to prepare the banana flower for the kesel muwa stir-fry.

1. Have a bowl ready with water, salt and turmeric added to it.
2. Clean and chop the banana blossom(see how to clean banana blossom above).
3. Add the chopped banana blossom into the turmeric water, soak for 5 minutes.
4. Use a large strainer to strain all the flower blossoms from the water, squeeze any excess water and transfer the chopped banana blossoms to a bowl. 
5. You might find, getting all the tiny pieces a bit tricky but with a little patience, you can do it.

Cooking the kesel muwa stir-fry.

1. Place a pan over medium heat.
2. Pour in oil, then temper curry leaves, onions until they turn golden in colour.
3. Reduce heat to low add chilli powder, turmeric, chilli flecks, green chillies, cook for 3 minutes.
4. Turn heat to low and add the banana flowers to the pan, combine and cook for 5 minutes or until the banana flower is cooked.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and further cook the chopped banana flowers, pour in the tamarind and cook for a few minutes(3-5 minutes)
6. Taste and season with salt if necessary.
7. Serve warm with your favourite rice and curry menu.
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