Kadali Chopa Patua ( Green Banana Peel Chutney )

Yet another testimony to the culinary prowess of the Odia woman of yore, this recipe is literally making the best out of waste. Much before the Masterchefs of the tech savy world took it upon themselves to invent a gastronomic masterpiece out of kitchen wastage (peels, seeds, leaves, etc), somebody had already incorporated the idea in a lip smacking dish. Today's recipe is a simple yet amazing dish made from the discarded peel of the raw bananas.

I remember tasting this heavenly dish prepared by my grandma's friend who used to make it on a 'sila' or 'silbatta'. She used to come to our house to pluck the green bananas right from the small grove in our backyard and in return, we got to sample some of her yummy creations. It was my Mom who learnt this recipe from her. Along with the peels, one can also use the very small bananas that are right at the bottom of the bunch.

It is tough to find such fresh vegetables when one does not possess a garden or a farm. But I prefer buying the green bananas from the local vendors instead of the supermarkets for best results. Try buying ones that have a uniform green color and are free from black spots or markings.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 raw banana ( we will use the peels for this recipe )
• 1 small potato ( cut into thin long pieces )
• 1/3 tsp mustard
• 5 garlic cloves
• 1 green chili
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp mustard oil
• salt to taste

Preparation - Peel the banana and soak the peels in a bowl of water to which a little turmeric has been added.

Grind the peel along with the mustard seeds, green chili and garlic into a smooth paste.

Peel and chop the potato into tin long pieces. Mix the banana peel paste, chopped potato, mustard oil, salt and turmeric in a thick bottomed saucepan. Add about 1/4 cup water to it.

Cooking - Put the saucepan on a low flame and let it cook till the potatoes turn mushy. Keep stirring at regular intervals so that contents at the bottom do not get burnt.

Remove from the flame.

Serve at room temperature with white rice and dal . Or enjoy along with mudhi/bhel !!

Maccha Patua ( Fish cooked in a mustard-garlic paste )

Cooking Time Required: 15-0 mins
Cost of preparation: 70-80 rupees

Ingredients: Medium-sized Pomfret ( 1 no.), mustard seeds ( 1 tsp), poppy seeds ( 1 tsp), garlic pods ( 6-7 nos ), green chilli ( 1 no ), mustard oil ( 1 tsp), turmeric ( 1 pinch), salt.

Preparation: Grind the mustard seeds, poppy seeds and 3 of the garlic pods into a fine paste. Wash and clean the pomfret and cut into small pieces.

Cooking: Take a thick bottomed wok and put the pomfret pieces into it. Add the mustard-poppy seeds paste, chopped garlic pods and green chilli, mustard oil, turmeric and salt along with half cup water. Mix thoroughly and put the wok on the fire.

Cook with the lid covered for about 10 minutes or till the fish is well cooked. The water should have evaporated and the mustard-poppy paste formed a thick layer around the fish pieces.

Serve with rice and yellow dal. Tastes best when eaten hot.


Note - A simple and delicious recipe, this is popularly called 'patua' in Orissa. Traditionally the fish is wrapped in plantain/banana and cooked slowly over a charcoal or wood fire. Or even steamed in a pot of rice .

Alternately, coat the fish pieces with the mustard-poppy-garlic paste, garlic pieces, green chillis, turmeric and salt. Wrap the fish in a plantian/banana leaf and cook in a microwave .