Chapchar Kut, the festival of Mizoram, is celebrated to welcomes the season of spring with music, dance and of course, a meal with traditional delicacies. The festival, rooted in agricultural practices, is a time to celebrate after months of toil in the jhum fields. Like other harvest festivals in India, food is the bind that brings people together over plates of shared goodies.
Banana fritters have been a part of Chapchar Kut feasts for generations. Given Mizo’s love for naturally sweet, locally grown bananas, these fritters became a dessert staple, crispy golden outside and soft caramelised inside. The simplicity of deep-fried bananas coated in a light batter makes it a quick and special treat for the occasion. Traditionally served plain or with honey, adding melted chocolate gives it a modern twist.
With a few pantry staples and a few minutes of frying, you can make a festive treat that captures the essence of the season.
Ingredients (4 servings)
For the chocolate drizzle:
Method:
For great fritters you need ripe but firm bananas. Overripe ones will become mushy when fried and under-ripe ones won’t have the natural sweetness. Elaichi or Yelakki bananas work best for Indian recipes as they have a strong flavor and hold their shape well.
Your batter shouldn’t be too thick or too runny. If it’s too thick it will form a heavy coating and won’t crisp up properly. If it’s too thin it won’t stick to the bananas. The best way to test is to dip a spoon in—if it lightly coats the spoon you have it right!
Adding a little rice flour to your batter is a great way to get that perfect crispiness. It prevents the fritters from becoming soggy too quickly and gives them a nice light crispiness. Cornflour can also be used for the same effect.
Banana fritters need to be fried in oil that’s hot but not smoking. If the oil is too cold, they will absorb too much oil and become greasy. If too hot they will brown too quickly without cooking inside. The best way to check is by dropping a small bit of batter—if it rises immediately but doesn’t burn, your oil is ready.
A slotted spoon helps you flip the fritters easily and drains excess oil when you take them out. If you don’t have one, use a regular spoon but be gentle when flipping so you don’t break the fritters.
Chocolate can be tricky to melt. The best way is to use a double boiler (a bowl over simmering water) to prevent burning. If you’re in a hurry, microwave it in short bursts of 20 seconds, stir in between. Add a teaspoon of butter or milk to make the drizzle smooth and glossy.
For best results, drizzle the chocolate while the fritters are warm. This way it will slightly seep in, and every bite will be richer. If you prefer a firmer chocolate layer, let the fritters cool slightly before drizzling.