A tasty and healthy snack, steamed banana or Pazham Puzhungiyathu is a popular South Indian recipe. It can easily be made at home. Steamed banana is traditionally served during Onam and Vishu sadya. It can also be eaten for breakfast or an evening snack, and works as a side dish with upma and rice puttu. Bananas are high in fibre and help digestion.
In Kerala, steamed banana is sometimes served with jaggery, the name of the dish being Pazham Nurukku. Pazham Nurukku is a caramelised version of the same recipe. In East Africa, bananas are peeled, wrapped in leaves and left to steam atop a charcoal fire. A different and more modern cooking process is followed in Kerala. Yellow bananas indigenous to Kerala are used.
