Pazham Pori | Banana Fritters

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Pazham pori recipe with step by step pics. Pazham pori also known as ethakka appam is a popular snack from Kerala made with ripe bananas. Banana slices are coated in an all-purpose flour batter and then deep fried. A tasty vegan banana fritters recipe that makes for a good tea time snack paired with a cup of hot chai or coffee.

pazham pori served on a white plate with text layover.

The bananas used to prepare pazham pori are nendram pazham. These variety of bananas are long, large and are firm even when ripe. They are used not only to make the famous Kerala banana chips but also these banana fritters and some more sweets.

Now this Nendram pazham or ethapazham is not easily available everywhere in India or outside India. So you can use firm ripe bananas. Do not use bananas that are too ripe or very soft. In the recipe also I have used ripe bananas which are sweet and yet firm. If using nendram pazham, then use the ripe ones.

However the taste of these banana fritters is awesome when made with Nendram pazham. The mushy, soft, sweet texture of the cooked bananas pairs nicely with the crispy and soft texture of the all purpose flour batter layer.

Whenever my parents go to Kerala, they get nendram pazham for me. I always steam them and have plain or at times with puttu. Its only me in our family, that has a special taste for these bananas. So I only cook it for myself 🙂

My mom used to prepare these sweet banana fritters on occasion like an evening snack for us. Also during my stay in Kerala, the hotel where we lived would serve pazham pori at least twice or thrice a week in their complimentary evening snacks menu. Apart from pazham pori, there would also be Paruppu vadai, sandwich and Aloo bonda.

Preparing these banana fritters are very easy. All-purpose flour is used for the batter. So do try to use organic all-purpose flour or unbleached all-purpose flour. For health reasons, you can use whole wheat flour too. Also some rice flour can be added to the batter to make the fritters crisp.

Serve pazham pori hot or warm as an evening snack with chai or filter coffee. You don’t need any other accompaniment with it.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to make Pazham Pori (Banana Fritters)

1. In a mixing bowl, take ½ cup all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon sugar (optional), a pinch of turmeric powder and a pinch of baking soda. You can also add 1 tablespoon of rice flour for some crispiness.

ingredients to make pazham pori recipe

2. Mix very well with a spoon or wired whisk.

making batter for pazham pori recipe

3. Then add water in parts. I used ⅓ cup of water. Depending on the quality of the flour, you can add less or more water. If the batter becomes thin, then add some more all-purpose flour.

preparing batter for pazham pori recipe

4. Mix to a smooth batter without any lumps.

batter for pazham pori recipe

5. The batter consistency is slightly thick so that it coats the banana slices very well. Keep aside.

making pazham pori recipe

6. Peel two large bananas or 3 medium-sized bananas.

bananas for pazham pori recipe

7. Then first slice them horizontally in half or quarters. Then slice each piece vertically in two equal parts.

bananas for pazham pori recipe

Frying pazham pori

8. Heat oil for deep frying in a pan or kadai. When the oil becomes medium hot, then the banana fritters can be fried. Dip each slice in the batter and coat it well with the batter.

making pazham pori recipe

9. Gently place the batter coated banana slices in the medium hot oil. Fry the slices depending on the size of the kadai or pan. Take care not to overcrowd the kadai.

frying - making pazham pori recipe

10. When one side is cooked, then turn over gently and fry the other side.

frying - making pazham pori recipe

11. Fry till both sides are light golden. You don’t need to fry these fritters too much. stop once the bananas start oozing out moisture into the oil and the oil begins to splutter too much. We just need to fry till the outer coating is done. A light golden is fine.

frying pazham pori

12. Remove with a slotted spoon draining extra oil in the kadai itself.

pazham pori

13. Keep the fried banana fritters on kitchen paper towels. In the same way, fry the remaining banana slices.

You may see some caramelisation happening on the remaining banana fritters. This is due to the moisture and sugars which have leeched into the oil while frying the first batch. Prepare the pazham pori in the same manner and keep them on kitchen paper towels, so that the excess oil is soaked up.

pazham pori

14. Serve pazham pori hot as an evening snack with chai or filter coffee.

pazham pori


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pazham pori recipe

Pazham Pori | Banana Fritters

Pazham pori or ethakka appam is a popular street food snack from Kerala made with ripe bananas. 
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Cuisine Kerala
Course Snacks
Diet Vegan
Difficulty Level Moderate
Servings 3
Units

Ingredients

  • 300 grams ripe firm bananas or 2 to 3 medium to large ripe bananas or nendram pazham
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon Rice Flour – optional
  • 1 tablespoon sugar – optional
  • 1 pinch turmeric powder
  • 1 pinch baking soda
  • cup water or add as required
  • oil as required, for deep frying

Instructions
 

making batter

  • In a mixing bowl, take ½ cup maida, 1 tablespoon sugar (optional), a pinch of turmeric powder and a pinch of baking soda.
  • Mix very well.
  • Then add water in parts. I used ⅓ cup water. Depending on the type of flour, you can add less or more water. If batter becomes thin, then add some more maida.
  • Mix to a smooth batter without any lumps.
  • The batter consistency is slightly thick so that it coats the banana slices very well. Keep aside.

making pazham pori

  • Peel two large bananas.
  • Then first slice them in half or quarters. Then slice each piece vertically in two equal parts.
  • Heat oil for deep frying in a pan or kadai. When the oil becomes medium hot, then the banana fritters can be fried. Dip each slice in the batter and coat it well with the batter.
  • Gently place the batter coated banana slices in medium hot oil.
  • Fry the slices depending on the size of the kadai or pan.
  • When one side is cooked, then turn over gently and fry the other side.
  • Fry till both sides are light golden. You don’t need to fry these fritters too much. Stop once the bananas start oozing out moisture into the oil and the oil begins to splutter too much. We just need to fry till the outer coating is done. A light golden is fine.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon.
  • Keep the fried banana fritters on kitchen paper towels.
  • In the same way, fry the remaining banana slices. You may see some caramelisation happening on the remaining banana fritters. This is due to the moisture and sugars which have leeched into the oil while frying the first batch. Prepare the pazham pori in the same manner and keep them on kitchen paper towels, so that the excess oil is soaked up.
  • Serve pazham pori hot as an evening snack with tea.

Notes

  • This recipe can be easily scaled.

Nutrition Info (Approximate Values)

Nutrition Facts
Pazham Pori | Banana Fritters
Amount Per Serving
Calories 273 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Sodium 94mg4%
Potassium 384mg11%
Carbohydrates 45g15%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 64IU1%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg67%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg59%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 2mg10%
Vitamin B6 1mg50%
Vitamin C 9mg11%
Vitamin E 4mg27%
Vitamin K 1µg1%
Calcium 10mg1%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 58µg15%
Iron 1mg6%
Magnesium 33mg8%
Phosphorus 47mg5%
Zinc 1mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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This Pazham Pori post from the archives first published in December 2016 has been republished and updated on January 2022.

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Meet Dassana

Welcome to Dassana's Veg Recipes. I share vegetarian recipes from India & around the World. Having been cooking for decades and with a professional background in cooking & baking, I help you to make your cooking journey easier with my tried and tested recipes showcased with step by step photos & plenty of tips & suggestions.

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5 Comments

  1. hello dear, can v substitute baking soda wid baking powder? thanks a lot for d loveliest recipes around.. when r u pls sharing rajasthani dal baati and choorma recipe??

    1. taru, in this recipe you can easily add one or two pinches of baking powder. thanks and i will try to add both rajasthani dal baati and choorma soon.

  2. wow how does it tastes?
    Will have to go to Kerala or try it myself by cooking it through your easy recipe and step by step useful guidance..

    1. it tastes very good. of course with nendram bananas the taste is awesome. the mushy and sweet texture of the cooked bananas accompanies the crisp and soft texture of the maida layer very well.