• August 10, 2025
  • Live Match Score
  • 0

Sharkara Upperi is a mild sweet snack made using raw Nendran banana and jaggery. This is a traditional Kerala snack made during festivals or when there is good banana harvest at home. This recipe has that crispy fried banana cubes soaked in jaggery syrup with spices tastes too good. It is very easy to make if you follow the step by step pictures and video to make perfect Sharkara Upperi. 

sharkara upperi served

This recipe is not like the regular banana chips we make. It’s unique, the jaggery syrup coat the bananas with the spices mix, making it sweet and flavorful. Its perfect for snack boxes or you can enjoy it as a tea time snack. The addition of jeera, dry ginger and cardamom gives a nice punch. You will keep going back for more once you start eating.

Jump to:

About Sharkara Upperi

Sharkara Upperi is a deep fried banana sweet made using raw nendran banana cubes, jaggery syrup, spices and roasted rice flour. It is also called as Upperi in short or Sharkara Varatti. The chips are fried crisp and coated in thick jaggery syrup along with dry ginger and jeera. It is slightly sticky, mildly sweet and very addictive to snack.

This is usually made in Kerala homes especially during harvest season when nendran is freshly available. It is also a part of traditional Kerala Sadhya during Onam festival. The syrup coating is done carefully so that each chip gets that coating. The final rice flour gives a dry outer finish.

This recipe has that crispy texture and sweet at the same time. When you bite it, the chips give a nice crackle and the jaggery syrup melts in mouth. The mild spices added gives nice aroma and helps in digestion too. It is one of the unique sweets of Kerala which stays good for weeks.

I usually make this when I get raw nendran from local shop. It takes some time but gives big batch so I store in tin and enjoy for days. It also goes well with tea. Sharkara Upperi is a traditional recipe cooked at homes when there is a good harvest of nenthran banana & last good for weeks together.

sharkara upperi in handssharkara upperi in hands

Sharkara Upperi Video

Sharkara Upperi Ingredients

  • Raw Nendran Banana – I have used raw nendran banana, it gives the perfect crispy texture. Chop in small semi circle for even frying.
  • Jaggery – I have used powdered jaggery for sweetness and it gives that brown glossy coat. You can use regular jaggery or dark brown sugar for deep color.
  • Jeera Powder – I added this for a light flavor and helps to balance the sweetness. Use roasted cumin powder also known as jeera powder.
  • Dry Ginger Powder – I have added this for flavor and it also helps in digestion. This is a must for sharkara upperi, do not skip it. I have added for mild flavor add more for a strong flavor.
  • Cardamom Powder – I love this for its flavor and aroma. It gives that sweet touch which matches well with the jaggery.
  • Sugar – Sugar adds a gloss and texture while mixed with rice flour.
  • Rice Flour – I have used at the end for coating. It removes that stickiness and gives a dry finish. You can skip but I prefer adding.
  • Coconut Oil – I have used coconut oil for deep frying the bananas. You can use any neutral oil of your choice. Heat it well before adding the bananas.
ingredients needed to make sharkara upperi ingredients needed to make sharkara upperi

Why This Recipe Works

  • This recipe use simple things we have at home only.
  • It has mild sweet taste with little bit spice, not too strong.
  • It stays good for many days, no need to make again and again.
  • It is easy if we do the steps correct, especially syrup part.
  • This is perfect for Onam time or even just for tea in evening.

Similar Recipes

How to make Sharkara Upperi Recipe Step by Step

1.Take ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder, ¼ teaspoon roasted cumin powder and ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder.

add spice powdersadd spice powders

2.Mix it well and set aside.

mix it wellmix it well

3.Mix 2 tablespoon sugar with 1 tablespoon rice flour, set aside.

mix sugar, rice flourmix sugar, rice flour

4.Trim the edges, score on the lines slightly not too deep.

score on the linesscore on the lines

5.Peel off the skin.

peel the skinpeel the skin

6.Scrape the sides, now nendran banana is ready!

peel removed nendran bananapeel removed nendran banana

7.First cut into half.

cut into halfcut into half

8.Slit in the middle and cut like this.

slit and cutslit and cut

9.All cut and ready.

cut and readycut and ready

10.Keep it immersed in water to avoid decoloring. Rinse it well.

soak in water, rinsesoak in water, rinse

11.Now transfer to a strainer. If you are going to fry in many batches then take little by little from water then add to strainer.

drain waterdrain water

12.Heat coconut oil – add it in batches. I fried in 2 batches.

add in batchesadd in batches

13.Fry in medium heat, it takes minimum 5-8 minutes. Fry until golden brown or until crisp.

deep fry until golden browndeep fry until golden brown

14.All fried and ready.

all fried and readyall fried and ready

15.Break to check if it is crisp or not. If it does not break then you need to fry for little more time, Set aside.

break to checkbreak to check

16.To a sauce pan add ½ cup powdered jaggery along with ½ cup water.

add jaggery, wateradd jaggery, water

17.Heat it until jaggery melts completely.

dissolve completelydissolve completely

18.Now strain the jaggery syrup and add to a wide pan.

strain and add to panstrain and add to pan

19.Let it boil, when the syrup starts to thicken add mixed spice powders.

add spice powdersadd spice powders

20.Keep cooking until 1 string consistency.

cook till 1 stringcook till 1 string

21.Once 1 string consistency is reached, add the fried nendran banana.

add fried bananaadd fried banana

22.Mix it well.

mix it wellmix it well

23.Add half of sugar-rice mixture.

add rice sugar mixadd rice sugar mix

24.Mix well then add remaining sugar-rice mixture and mix well until it becomes dry and hard, Switch off.

mix, cook till dry and hardmix, cook till dry and hard

25.Sharkara upperi is ready!

sharkara upperi is readysharkara upperi is ready

Expert Tips

  • Banana Chopping – I have cut the raw banana into equal size cubes. If it is too big, it may not fry well. So make it even and bite size.
  • Frying – Fry the banana till the ‘shh’ sound stops. It will make tapping sound on kadai then it’s ready. Don’t undercook or overcook the bananas.
  • Jaggery Syrup – The syrup should be like honey and slightly sticky. Dont add more water. Adjust the consistency accordingly.
  • Roasting Rice Flour – I roast for few mins without changing the color, when smoke starts to come switch off and set aside to cool.
  • Mixing Syrup – After adding chips to syrup, mix gently so that every piece gets coated well. Keep mixing till it coats the chips.

Serving and Storage

Serve them as snack with hot tea or just enjoy plain. This goes well with Onam Sadhya too as a sweet side. Store leftover in airtight container after cooling down fully. It stays good for 10 to 15 days. Try not to keep in fridge as it may turn hard.

FAQS

1.Can I use ripe banana instead of raw?

No, ripe one will turn mushy and won’t give crispy texture. Use only raw nendran banana. 

2.Should I roast rice flour?

No, it is not necessary.

3.What type of jaggery should I use?

Yes, you can use any regular or organic jaggery. Just strain after melting to remove dirt particles.

4.Why my chips turned soggy after few hours?

Chips should be fried crispy. It may loose texture If not fried well. so fry them until crispy.

5.Can I use regular cooking oil for frying?

For frying, yes you can use regular cooking oil too but coconut oil gives more flavor and taste.

sharkara upperi servedsharkara upperi served

If you have any more questions about this Sharkara Upperi Recipe do mail me at [email protected]. In addition, follow me on Instagram, Facebook,  Pinterest, Youtube and Twitter .

Tried this Sharkara Upperi Recipe? Do let me know how you liked it. Also tag us on Instagram @sharmispassions and hash tag it on #sharmispassions.

📖 Recipe Card

Sharkara Upperi Recipe | Sharkara Varatti Recipe

Sharkara Upperi is a mild sweet snack made using raw Nendran banana and jaggery. This is a traditional Kerala snack made during festivals or when there is good banana harvest at home. This recipe has that crispy fried banana cubes soaked in jaggery syrup with spices tastes too good. It is very easy to make if you follow the step by step pictures and video to make perfect Sharkara Upperi. 

Instructions

  • Take ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder, ¼ teaspoon roasted cumin powder and ¼ teaspoon cardamom powder.

  • Mix it well and set aside.

  • Mix 2 tablespoon sugar with 1 tablespoon rice flour, set aside.

  • Trim the edges, score on the lines slightly not too deep.

  • Peel off the skin.

  • Scrape the sides, now nendran banana is ready!

  • First cut into half.

  • Slit in the middle and cut like this.

  • All cut and ready.

  • Keep it immersed in water to avoid decoloring. Rinse it well.

  • Now transfer to a strainer. If you are going to fry in many batches then take little by little from water then add to strainer.

  • Heat coconut oil – add it in batches. I fried in 2 batches.

  • Fry in medium heat, it takes minimum 5-8 minutes. Fry until golden brown or until crisp.

  • All fried and ready.

  • Break to check if it is crisp or not. If it does not break then you need to fry for little more time, Set aside.

  • To a sauce pan add ½ cup powdered jaggery along with ½ cup water.

  • Heat it until jaggery melts completely.

  • Now strain the jaggery syrup and add to a wide pan.

  • Let it boil, when the syrup starts to thicken add mixed spice powders.

  • Keep cooking until 1 string consistency.

  • Once 1 string consistency is reached, add the fried nendran banana.

  • Mix it well.

  • Add half of sugar-rice mixture.

  • Mix well then add remaining sugar-rice mixture and mix well until it becomes dry and hard, Switch off.

  • Sharkara upperi is ready!

Video

Notes

  • Banana Chopping – I have cut the raw banana into equal size cubes. If it is too big, it may not fry well. So make it even and bite size.
  • Frying – Fry the banana till the ‘shh’ sound stops. It will make tapping sound on kadai then it’s ready. Don’t undercook or overcook the bananas.
  • Jaggery Syrup – The syrup should be like honey and slightly sticky. Dont add more water. Adjust the consistency accordingly.
  • Roasting Rice Flour – I roast for few mins without changing the color, when smoke starts to come switch off and set aside to cool.
  • Mixing Syrup – After adding chips to syrup, mix gently so that every piece gets coated well. Keep mixing till it coats the chips.

Nutrition Facts

Sharkara Upperi Recipe | Sharkara Varatti Recipe

Amount Per Serving (75 g)

Calories 560 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Saturated Fat 0.1g1%

Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g

Monounsaturated Fat 0.1g

Sodium 8mg0%

Potassium 904mg26%

Carbohydrates 138g46%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 99g110%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin A 2024IU40%

Vitamin C 33mg40%

Calcium 36mg4%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Like our video?Subscribe to our youtube channel to get latest updates!



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *