Guava Banana Salad Recipe

Ramzan is in full swing there is plenty of iftar options all over the place. Hyderabad is famed for its haleem, hares, biryani, samosa, kheema luqmi, and what not. I believe no other city is India is as thriving as the Nawabi Hyderabad when it comes to breaking the fast at the end of the day. This city simply comes alive at sunset.

But for most what rules at the iftaar dastarkhaan are fresh fruits and light-on-stomach delicacies. The fasting stomach is best treated to foods that are gentle, light and filling. Among the many options tops the humble jaam (guava) and much more humble mouz (banana).

I grew up listening to the adage that guava is a poor man’s apple. It has been mentioned so many times in my life that whenever I see guava I feel sorry for this lovely tropical fruit. It needs to get its due. Guava is cheap, found everywhere and thankfully within the reach of most. Its health benefits are too many to list down.

Guava trees are a common sight is many courtyards of the old city houses. Since this little fruit is found in abundance in this city, there are many recipes with guava that have been handed down over the ages. Here is my recipe for guava banana salad (which is my mom’s favorite) that I have been making since my childhood. Nothing can beat the simplicity of this quick salad that ranks high on taste and texture.

How to make the guava salad
2 medium sized guavas
1 banana
1 pinch salt
1 tsp sugar/ jaggery/ honey
1 tsp lemon juice

Chop guava into desired size blocks. You can de seed the guava before if you wish.
Add salt, sugar, a dash of lemon juice and mix well.
Toss in chopped bananas and mix gently.
Garnish with coriander or basil.

Eat as soon as possible or refrigerate before serving. The salad stays fresh as its seasoning (guava salad dressing) acts as a preservative.

You can add more variations to this salad ranging from other fruits, pepper, chat masala, mint, jaggery, honey, nuts, etc. But this snack is best eaten this simple sugar-salt-lemon combo way.

Mashed Fruits for Babies and Infants
If you wish to feed babies, blend the guavas as some have hard seeds or the fruit itself may be hard. Mash bananas into this mixture before feeding. Babies do not need any kind of seasoning.

KitchenSoup for the Soul
This salad is being made almost every day and has become a cathartic routine. From chopping, mixing and serving, it is a sense of life that is better with less… especially when we live in unnecessary excess all the time. That there is joy in simple things and sometimes less is more.

That’s the moral of the month too.