southern Indian food

BananaLeafLA in Van Nuys by Popular Demand!

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(Gerry Furth-Sides) BananaLeafLa now serves the valley by popular demand at Banana Leaf Express. The authentic Indian food menu is available by pick-up, delivery and in the small, cozy sit-down cafe.

Owner-Chef Sri Sambangi of Banana Leaf Cafe in Culver City continues his mission to introduce authentic, exclusive Southern Indian regional specialties to those already familiar with the cuisine. Word-of-mouth and the media has also encouraged new customers who have become fans.

Owner Sri Sambangi with the wildly popular Chicken 65 at BananaLeafla in Van Nuys

The southern area is best known for the revered Hyderabadi Dum Biryani, made with meats marinated overnight, special rice and seasonings, then slowly simmered in a sealed pot for 25 to 50 minutes.  “Dum,” in fact means “simmer.”

The revered Hyderabadi Dum Biryani at the new Banana Leafla in Van Nuys

Sri’s menu of inviting dishes, many with home grown herbs, is packed with the fresh, bold flavors that have made this regional cuisine so beloved in India for centuries and made Southern Indian chefs so proud.  It is lively and colorful eating, filled with unusual combinations of home and street food. 

Signature Southern Sstuffed Eggplant now at the BananaLeafLa in Van Nuys!

Southern India regions include Andwa (Andhra Pradesh), Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and Karnataka. (KA). Their dishes are based primarily around rice, lentils, and stews. 

The cuisine is lighter and more vegetarian-focused than the meat-based fare in the colder north.  Unusual veggie dishes include Tindora, (stuffed okra), and Bharwa baingan (stuffed eggplant).  These representative dishes, guaranteed to win over the most skeptical of eaters with varied tender and crunchy textures and seasonings. 

Tindera (a stuffed gourd similar to okra) at Banana Leaf Van Nuys

Specialty mainstay dishes include the ever popular Southern Style Sag Paneer (minced, specially seasoned, without cream); and Chicken Tikka Masala.   There are over 20 Biryanis including:  Chicken 65, goat and Dindigul (Chennai Style).  

Southern Style Sag Paneer at BananaLeafla Van Nuys

On the appetizer list: Hyderabadi Boneless fish fry, Andrea Halal Chicken Fry; Vegetarian and protein Manchurian Gobis with a sweet-sour, Indo-China influence).  In the curry section are: Organic Chicken and Lamb Tikka Masala, Mango Dal. 

The irresistible Andhra Potato Fry at Banana Leaf in Van Nuys

Homestyle dishes include comfort-food, idly (steamed lentil-rice cakes, like a savory doughnut), and accompanying and huli/sambar (a spicy lentil and vegetable stew) and saaru/rasam (a tomato, tamarind, and lentil soup.

Desserts include the classic gulab jamun individual and in a cake! Lassi’s are also on the menu.

Classic gulab jamun at BananaLeafla in Van Nuys

Sri also continues the idea that “the guest is equivalent to God” and Hindu philosophy of Atithi.  Banana Leaf offers five full meals daily to those customers unable to pay. 

Banana Leaf, 6159 Van Nuys Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91401, (818) 453-8223

For more information on the locations, please see: (bananaleafla.com)

You’ll love these crunchy Indian Fries

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(Barbara Hansen) These are the crunchiest fries you could ever crunch on. They’re not potatoes, they’re idlis, South Indian steamed cakes made from a rice and lentil batter (above). Sliced and deep-fried, they turn into an incredible snack that kids go crazy for, especially because they come sprinkled with tomatoes, onions and cilantro, almost like salsa.

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But they don’t lose their Indian identity entirely. The traditional idli accompaniments come with them too. These are sambar, which is a thin lentil and vegetable soup for dipping or pouring over, and fresh coconut chutney, made extra creamy with ground cashews.

The only place you can get the fries is Udupi Palace, a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Artesia’s Little India.  And you have to know the password, because they’re not on the menu. Just say  “fried idlis,” and you’ll be rewarded with a sensational snack.

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Udupi Palace has another innovation that you won’t want to miss. It’s a sort of South Indian quesadilla (above), with a golden brown dosa subbing for tortillas as the wrapper.

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Inside are Jack and Cheddar cheeses, tomatoes, onions and jalapeños (above). Like idlis, dosas always come with sambar and coconut chutney so these are provided too.

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The name is Spicy Chilly Cheese Dosa, and it’s in a long list of dosas on the menu (above). These large crisp crepes are as typical of South India as tacos and quesadillas are of Mexico. Maybe that’s where the idea came from.



After this spicy food, you’ll want something cooling, like rose lassi (above). Flavored with rose syrup, it’s topped with ice cream sprinkled with pistachios. Sweet basil seeds (sabja) are mixed in, and the one in the photo includes translucent falooda noodles too.

Also, be sure to ask for a milky Mysore coffee. One taste and you’ll know why South India is as famous for its rich, deeply-flavored coffee as for its unique cuisine.

Udupi Palace, 18635 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia, CA 90701. Tel: (562) 860-1950.

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