View source for Banana leaf platter

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name             = Banana leaf rice
| image            = Bananaleafrice001.jpg
| image_size       = 250px
| caption          = Banana leaf rice
| alternate_name   = 
| country          = [[India]]
| region           = [[South India]]<br>[[Southeast Asia]]
| creator          = 
| course           = 
| served           = 
| main_ingredient  = [[Rice]], [[curry]], [[banana leaf]]
| variations       = 
| calories         = 
| other            = 
}}
'''Banana leaf platter''' is a traditional method of serving rice dishes in [[South Indian cuisine]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chennaionline.com/cityfeature/FoodCorner/Feb09/02foodcorner17.aspx |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090522172433/http://chennaionline.com/cityfeature/FoodCorner/Feb09/02foodcorner17.aspx |archive-date=2009-05-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to the migration of South Indians, banana leaf rice can also be found in areas with significant ethnic South Indian diaspora such as [[Malaysian Indian|Malaysia]] and [[Indians in Singapore|Singapore]].

In banana leaf meals, white rice (or parboiled rice in authentic South Indian restaurants) is served on a [[banana leaf]] with an assortment of vegetables, [[Indian pickle|pickles]], [[appalam]] and other regional condiments (usually sour, salty or spicy). The banana leaf acts as a disposable plate and it in itself is not consumed. The choice of banana leaves is mainly due to the broad leaves as well as to the ubiquity of the plant in South India. Typically, only vegetarian gravy (e.g. [[sambar (dish)|sambar]]) will be served on the rice as it is meant to be a traditional vegetarian dish. However, sometimes boiled eggs, [[curry|curried]] or fried meat or seafood are served as well. Traditionally, there will be two servings of rice with the first being served with gravy, side dishes and condiments whilst the second serving will be just rice with [[curd]] as a palate cleanser.

Banana leaf meals are [[Etiquette of Indian dining|eaten by hand]]. Traditionally  only the right hand is used, and only the  tips of the fingers should touch the food. Any  part of the finger beyond the first knuckle or the palm must not touch the food. Parts of the Banana leaf meal etiquette also dictates that, after the meal, the guest must always fold the banana leaf inwards as a sign of gratitude to the host, even when the host is the proprietor of an eatery. However, when meals are served at funeral wakes, the leaf is folded outwards as a sign of condolence to the family of the deceased. Due to this, folding the leaf outwards is considered rude in any other circumstance.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==See also==
* [[Mamak stall]]
* [[Malaysian cuisine]]
* [[Sadya]]
* [[Nasi Kandar]]

{{Malaysian cuisine}}

[[Category:Malaysian rice dishes]]
[[Category:Kerala cuisine]]
[[Category:Indian rice dishes]]
[[Category:South Indian cuisine]]
[[Category:Banana leaf]]


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{{India-cuisine-stub}}