Aratikaya Bajji (Raw Plantain / Raw Banana Bajji)

Ingredients:

Aratikaayalu/Raw Plantains - 2

Senagapindi (Besan Flour / Gram flour) - 1 cup

Red chilly powder - 1/2 tbsp

Salt - as per taste

Baking soda - 1/4 tbsp

Carom seeds (Vaamu) - 1/4 tbsp

Oil - sufficient

Procedure:

1. Wash, peel and chop plantains in to thin slices and place in a bowl with water.
2. Take a medium sized mixing bowl, add besan flour, baking soda, salt, red chilly powder,carom seeds and mix well with water to form batter with sufficient consistency.
3. Take a kadai, add oil and heat it.
4. When oil is hot, dip plantain slices in batter and drop one by one in oil.
5. Fry them in oil for 1 min or until change their color. Then drain them from oil and serve hot.

TIP: Right consistency of batter is most important in preparing Aratikaaya bajji. If batter is too loose, it will not adhere properly to the plantain slices. In the same way, batter should not be very thick. If you dip your finger and lift, the batter should not be dropped immediately and it should fall slowly (right consistency of batter). Add 1-2 tbsp of rice flour while preparing batter to make the bajji crispy.