Health Benefits of Raw banana ‘Kachcha Kela’

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Grown in abundance in India, raw banana ‘kacha kela’ is best suited for cooked applications such as baking, boiling, frying, steaming, stir-frying and mashing. Besides being a culinary gem, it has also been traditionally used in the traditional medicine systems like Ayurveda for it cooling, astringent, anti-inflammatory and anti ulcer healing properties, amongst others.

Raw banana, also known as green banana, kaccha kela are small to medium size green fruits. They are cylindrical, elongated, and slightly curved. The peels are smooth and thick. Banana has a white to cream-coloured flesh that is firm, dense, and creamy with central small seeds or is seedless. Raw bananas have a starchy-tart flavour. Raw bananas are variable in colour, size, and firmness.

Nutritional Facts of Kaccha Kela

As per the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, unripe banana contains 89 kcal, 1.09 gm of proteins, 2.6 gm of fiber, 22.84 gm of carbohydrates, 0.33 gm of fats, 12.23 gm of sugar, 0.15 mg of zinc, 358 mg of potassium, 22 mg of phosphorus, 0.26 mg of iron, 1 mg of sodium, 27 mg of magnesium, 0.031 mg of thiamine, 9.8 mg of choline, 8.7 mg of vitamin C, 20 mcg of folate, and 0.4 mg of vitamin B6.

Potential Health Benefits of Raw Banana

1/5. Regulates blood pressure

1. Green bananas are rich in potassium which acts as a vasodilator, promoting healthy blood pressure levels.

2. Green bananas prevent heart conditions such as heart attacks, atherosclerosis, and strokes.

2/5. Aids digestion

1. The high levels of dietary fiber and resistant starch present in green bananas aids digestion and prevents stomach complaints. Dietary fibre content prevents constipation and bloating.

2. Kaccha kela also aids in preventing bacterial infection in the gut.

3/5. Controls Blood Sugar

1. The vitamin B6 content found in kaccha kela helps in controlling blood sugar levels.

2. The high fibre content of raw banana aids in suppressing the insulin release into the blood thus, stabilising the blood sugar levels.

3. The low sugar content of kaccha kela ensures that there is no sudden surge of blood sugar levels.

4/5. Boosts metabolism

1. The essential minerals and nutrients present in kaccha kela convert fat into energy thus, increasing body metabolism.

2. The vitamin B6 content of raw banana increases enzyme breakdown, boosting metabolism.

3. Raw bananas speed up the process of burning calories thus, boosting the metabolism.

5/5. Other possible Benefits

Raw banana produces several health benefits, apart from the health benefits mentioned above, it also produces a few more such as maintains skin and hair health, enhances immunity, promotes brain function, maintains heart health, regulates healthy levels of cholesterol, prevents stomach complaints, reduces hunger pangs, promotes loss of weight, treats diarrhoea, supports kidney functioning, improves nutrient absorption, andpromotes the development of probiotic bacteria.

People suffering from IBS (Irritable Bowel System) and Gastric issues can incorporate raw banana in their daily diet. Also, being resistant starches, low in glycemic index of less than 55, people with diabetes should include green banana in their diet.

How to use Raw banana for cooking?

Raw bananas can be boiled, baked, fried, steamed, stir-fried, and mashed. It can be incorporated into the diet in various ways such as…

Used for tempering.
Used to prepare jams.
Can be added to soups.
Can be paired with meats.
Used in stir-fries and curries.
Used to prepare dips and chips.
Are dried and ground into flour.
Used to prepare a soup known as kalan curry.
Used to prepare kebabs, kachori, poriyals, and pakoras.

How to prepare Raw Banana Pakoras?

Take 4 green raw bananas, peel them and rinse them in water. Chop the bananas horizontally into 3 equal pieces.

Prepare a batter by mixing 2 cups of gram flour (besan), ¾ tablespoon of rice flour, 4 pinches of baking soda, ¾ teaspoon red chili powder, ¾ teaspoon turmeric powder, and salt. Add water and make a thick batter.

Heat oil in a deep frying pan. Pat dry the raw banana slices and coat them completely with the batter.

Deep fry the slices until it turns golden brown.

Serve them hot.