{{short description|Plantain sweet dish from India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox prepared food | name = Unnakai | image =File:Unnakai_(ഉന്നക്കായ്).jpg | caption = | alternate_name = | country = India | region = Malabar | creator = | course = Dessert | served = | main_ingredient = banana, coconut, ghee, egg white, cardamom powder, sugar | variations = | calories = | other = }}
'''Unnakai''' (also called '''Unnakaya''', '''Kai Ada''', '''Unnakka''', and '''Kai Porichathu''') is a spindle shaped sweet dessert made chiefly of banana.<ref>{{cite book|last=Varghese |first=Theresa|title=Stark World Kerala|year=2006|url=http://www.google.co.in/search?num=100&hl=en&newwindow=1&tbo=p&tbs=bks%3A1&q=unnakaya&meta=&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=|accessdate=28 March 2010}}</ref> It originated from the Malabar region of India, and is often eaten at weddings, Iftar and other festivities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bollywoodsargam.com/video_todayfeaturedvideo.php?blockbustermovieclip=6ofvMTlXQOQ----Celebrity's_Kitchen%3A_'Unnakai'_by_Samvrutha_Sunil_-_Part_2_featured_hollywood_blockbuster_video.html|title=Celebrity s Kitchen Unnakai by Samvrutha Sunil - Part 2|publisher=bollywoodsargam.com|accessdate=28 March 2010}}</ref>
The main ingredient of this dish is steamed and mashed banana, which is a staple in Kerala, India. The relatively dry puree becomes the dough, which is rolled and flattened into patties. These patties are stuffed with sweetened beaten egg, scrapped flesh of coconut, nuts, raisins and cardamom, a spice which is rolled into the shape of a spindle with oiled palm. The stuffed dough is then deep fried in coconut oil, and is either consumed as a snack or topped with sago-based white sauce so that it can be served as a dessert.
Variations are made by varying the ingredients used in the filling. In certain parts of the region coconut is completely avoided, and the filling is made with just egg, sugar and nuts.
==See also== *Chatti Pathiri * List of stuffed dishes
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|Unnakai}}
Category:Kerala cuisine Category:Banana desserts Category:Stuffed desserts Category:Deep fried foods of India Category:Coconut desserts
{{India-cuisine-stub}}