"Banana Leaf Rice", served on a banana leaf with an assortment of vegetables, curried meat or fish, pickles, and/or papadum In banana leaf rice, white rice (or parboiled rice in authentic South Indian restaurants) is. Most of the time, however, only the gravy of the curry will be served and no meat is served as it is meant to be a traditional Indian vegetarian dish. It is traditionally eaten with the hand. The banana leaf is used as it is believed that the hot rice will release the coating on the banana leaf, which aids in digestion.