Vazhakkai Chips – Plantain Chips

Vazhakkai or Plantain Chips is an easy to make snack and my mom makes it often for most of the occasions. She is not a huge fan of store bought snacks or food and I have watched her make all different kind of chips and other snacks. Plantain Chips can be served with rice and sambar/rasam/yogurt or as a snack. They are savory and more like potato chips. Try this easy to follow recipe and enjoy your homemade chips.

Ingredients:

• Raw plantain (vazhakkai) – 2
• Chili powder – 3/4 tsp
• Salt – 1/2 tsp (adjust to taste)
• Curry leaves – 5 to 6 leaves
• Oil for frying

Method of Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan or kadai. I used canola oil. Any cooking oil would work.
2. Cut the ends and peel the skin off plantain, cut into halves and add it to a bowl with water. This is to prevent plantain from blackening.
3. Using a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife thinly slice one half the plantain into circles.
4. Separate the slices and add one by one into the hot oil. This step is necessary because after adding it in oil it will be hard to separate them.
5. Turn both sides and fry them until golden brown.
6. Slice the remaining halves one by one and follow the same procedure.
7. After frying all the plantains, fry the curry leaves.
8. Add fried chips and curry leaves in a paper or plastic bag or a container and sprinkle salt and chili powder. Shake well so that spice and salt are evenly mixed.
9. Crispy plantain chips is ready.
10. You can serve them as a side or as a snack.