It is slightly sweet, deeply fried and is made from bananas mixed with flour.Served with coconut chutney, the Mangalore buns (Grammar Nazis, that is how its called) is a delicacy from Karnataka coastline that has won many adherents in the silicon plateau of the country. Darshinis and a host of restaurants across the city dish out these delightful savouries.
Why is a food item that is deep fried and served with coconut chutney called buns? Who invented this ‘buns’?
City chronicler Mansoor Ali says, “Mangalore Buns is believed to have been created by a group of cooks in the kitchens of Udipi many years ago. It is said that the buns was a result of making an attempt to dispose a lot of ripe bananas, which was added to flour and resulted in the Mangalore Buns. The makers loved it and soon it became popular in Udupi and Mangalore and made its way to the darshinis of Bengaluru.”
He adds, “In Bengaluru, I like to have Mangalore buns that are served at the Halli Manne in Malleswaram. The coconut chutney works as an excellent accompaniment to the buns. In the summer months, some of the places use mangoes instead of bananas as the addition to the flour.”
Anil Chetty, one of the proprietors of popular Chetty’s corner in Seshadripuram is also a self-confessed addict of the buns. “They offer the sweetness of the bananas, the slight sourness of the flour and the tangy taste of the coconut chutney. We do not make it in the store here, but have it at one of the darshinis near my house. “
S.Bhat, who manages a small darshini in Frazer Town says that apart from the breakfast staple of dosas and idlis, the Mangalore buns is the most popular item in his restaurant.
“We sell more than 100 buns everyday. From college students to office goers, the buns are preferred as a savoury snack. It is not very heavy and is a great snack if it is cooked well.”
Hotelier Anupam Behera points out, “I had Mangalore buns at a friend’s place a couple of years ago. I learnt that the vegetarian chefs from Udupi were the brains behind the delicacy. In Bengaluru, the buns are not authentic since many places prepare them with maida, and not the banana flour combination. They do not have the authentic taste. One of the authentic places to get Mangalore buns in the city is a small Udupi Sagar, near the mini forest in JP Nagar. It is not an actual bun, it is a savoury. If you try and break it up, it feels like a bun.”
