Sharkkara Upperi (Banana Upperi)

by Sandy · August 22, 2016

Sharkkara Upperi is a traditional Kerala snack. It is a sweet, and is also served with traditional Kerala sadya during festival celebrations and wedding ceremonies. Sharkkara Upperi along with banana chips are the first items placed on the banana leaf for traditional sadya. Both are placed together on the left side of the leaf. Sharkkara Upperi is sweetish and banana chips are salty, and perfect starters for a traditional Kerala sadya served during Onam and wedding functions. Read to know the recipe of 4-cut banana chips.

Ingredients for Sharkkara Upperi:

Raw and unrippen banana is used for making upperi. Only Nentrakaaya (Ethakaaya) – a type of big banana is used for preparing both these snacks. Skin is removed first from green banana, and split into two. Then it is cut into pieces of ½ cm thickness to make Sharkkara Upperi. Uruli with thick bottom is best for preparing upperi.

1. Banana cut to ½ cm thick semi-circle pieces – 2 cup

2. Coconut oil – 4 cups

3. Jaggery – 150 gms

4. Dried ginger powder – 2 small spoons

Cumin powder – 1 small spoon (optional)

Cardamom powder – ½ tsp

5. Sugar – 2 small spoons

How to prepare Sharkkara Upperi for Kerala sadya?

1. Heat oil in Uruli or a pan with thick bottom.

2. Fry banana pieces in low flame till they turn reddish. If you try to break banana pieces with hands, it should be possible. That’s the correct point till they are to be fried.

3. Just before you remove banana pieces from oil, sprinkle a little water and sauté again. If done so, upperi will become hard and strong.

4. Heat jaggery till it becomes thread like. Mix ingredients no: 4 to it and mix well.

5. Once fried chips are cooled off completely, put them in this hot jaggery mixture and mix well.

6. Sprinkle sugar to your Sharkkara Upperi and mix well. If so, upperi will fully come off from the urli, and won’t stick one another.

7. Use after Upperi is fully cooled.

Archive: Vanitha magazine September 1-14 2011 edition

Also read a few banana dessert recipes. Here is the page link. Click on the images in the gallery to read.

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