This is the first Sweets recipe that I am sharing in Vegan Bangla. Normally I don’t make a lots of sweets and even if I try, it does not turn out that good…hahaha may be I am not a sweet person that’s why! The other reason could be that most of the desserts and sweets are non-vegan, there are always hint of milk or ghee in there. However, this recipe of Banana Donuts or Kolar Pitha (কলার পিঠা) is so easy and so universal that I have decided to try and its turned out amazing!

The ingredients are easily available. Bananas which are really ripe and not good to taste anymore are the best for this recipe. Besides, you need rice flours to make it crunchy and wheat flours to bind it. You can use rice flours only, but then it tends to get chewy when it gets cold! As the optional ingredients, I have used coconut flakes, cinnamon powder and nigella seeds.

First thing to do is mash the banana with one tea spoon of sugar. I have realized that using sugar is unnecessary if bananas are really sweet. If you decide not to use sugar, then just mash the bananas with pinch of salt. Salt enhances the flavor but just use a sprinkle.

Mashed banana should look like this, soft and watery. Now add rice flour and mix very well. You can use hand mixer or fork, but I have used my hand to mix them- the pure Bangladeshi style!

Adding rice flour would not change the texture that much, however you will feel the difference only after you eat the Pithas. Now add wheat flour gradually. Remember, you do not have to make the dough compact or dense. Just add enough to make it them sticky. If you add too much flour it would taste really bland.

For two bananas, I have added almost 300g of wheat flour and 100g of rice flour. Again you need to eye ball it, so add slowly if you are unsure. Mix everything very well.

You can see the dough is very soft but able to create some picks. This would be the consistency I would go for. Beat them very well with hand mixer to make them extra soft.

After beating them for a while, I added coconut flakes. This is optional ingredients. I have added 2 teaspoon of coconut flakes so it does not overpower the taste of banana. Now rest the mixture for atleast 10 minutes to maximum 30minutes. If you rest too long, the dough gonna get smelly, and you don’t want that.

Heat oil over low heat in a deep pan. Try to use a non-stick pan unlike me. To check the oil if it has heated properly, put a small pinch of dough in the oil. If it starts to bubble, then its ready. But remember, do not heat them really high, it will burn the donuts and inside it would be uncooked. Take a table spoon or use your hand and scoop small amount.

When you put dough in the pan, try to flip them after few seconds, otherwise they tend to stick to the bottom. I guess with non-stick pan, they will not stick to bottom. But its a good idea to flip them once a while.

While the first batch is getting fried, I am adding pinch of cinnamon powder to rest of the dough. Cinnamon goes really well with banana and enhances the taste really well.

The first batch is evenly fried. Use a sieve spoon to separate the oil and put the donuts on a paper towel.

While the batch with cinnamon powder is getting cooked, I am adding nigella seeds to the rest of the dough. I love nigella seeds and the amazing thing is that nigella seeds add great taste to any sweet or salty dish!

Keep the temperature under low heat throughout the time. After frying first batch, the temperature is too high for the next batch. So reduce the heat a little bit when you start adding the second batch.

The donuts aka Pitha’s fragrance is now all over my kitchen! I am frying the last batch and eagerly waiting to devour them!

Recipe: 3 Servings Prepping time: 8-10 minutes, Cooking time: 15-20 minutes

Ingredients: 2 overripe bananas 100g Rice flour 250g Wheat flour 1tbsp Sugar – optional 1/4 tsp Salt 100g Coconut flakes 1/2 tsp Cinamon powder 1/2 tsp nigella seed(black cumin) 100ml Vegetable Oil

Instructions: 1. Mash potatoes with salt and sugar until they are soft and watery. 2. Add rice flour. 3. Add wheat flour gradually. The dough has to be sticky but not too thick. You can add cinnamon powder and nigella seeds at this step if like. 4. Warm oil in low heat in a deep pot. Do not heat too much otherwise its gonna burn the Pitha. 5. Use a tea spoon to scoop the dough and add in oil. Stir in between and fry until golden brown. Keep the oil temperature in low heat all the time. 6. Mix nigella seed in rest of the dough and fry in same process.