Tea Time Will Never Be the Same Again, with Mumbra

A unique and unusual tea time snack from the Pathare Prabhus of Maharashtra, this is a sweet and savoury bake featuring banana and prawn.

This recipe combines two of my most favourite foods in the world - bananas and  prawns.

Often prepared as an afternoon snack, Mumbra was an exciting addition to our otherwise static teatime routine. But the most delicious thing about it, is that this is a recipe so simple, it can be prepared in less than an hour. 

It was only after Aji, my grandmother, was diagnosed with Parkinsons that I took down the recipe from her and made it exactly as per her instructions. I took it out of the oven and waited with bated breath for her verdict. When she pronounced it excellent, I breathed a sigh of relief — no, more than that: it made my day!

image by Soumitra Velkar

RECIPE FOR PATHARE PRABHU MUMBRA

Ingredients
15 prawns, chopped
2 onions, sliced vertically
3 Rajeli bananas, smashed by hand
1 cup rawa
1/2 cup grated coconut 
3 tsp jeera 
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tsp sugar
Salt, to taste

Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.
Layer the bananas and onion slices, then sprinkle some sugar over. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. 
Now smash the bananas, onion and sugar together. 
Add the rest of the ingredients, adding prawns at the very end. 
Brush the baking tray with oil and pour the mixture in. 
Bake for 20 minutes, checking for doneness with a toothpick. 
Cut into bars and serve hot.

Banner image by Soumitra Velkar

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