The edible banana flower
<b>Sheraton’s former executive sou chef, Priyantha Ileperuma, tips on how to prepare it</b><br><br>The banana flower is treated in several Asian and tropical cuisines as a vegetable. Once the tougher, darker outer brackets are pulled away, the paler and more tender inner leaves are used in a num
Sheraton’s former executive sou chef, Priyantha Ileperuma, tips on how to prepare it
The banana flower is treated in several Asian and tropical cuisines as a vegetable. Once the tougher, darker outer brackets are pulled away, the paler and more tender inner leaves are used in a number of dishes, prepared in a variety of ways.
A fresh, tender banana flower may be sliced and served raw, as in Thailand, where it is often accompanied by a hot and spicy dip called nam prik.
It is also served simmered in soup or fried with thin noodles. Other Asian and Indian cuisines add the sliced banana flower to meat stews, stir-fries, soups, and rice or noodle combinations.
It is also used in cold salads, with the salad mixture presented to the diner in one of the large purple-red outer brackets.
Many cooks familiar with the banana flower suggest wearing gloves or coating the hands with cooking oil prior to working with it. The cut ends of the banana flower leak a sap that will stain skin and other surfaces black.
The precaution of rubbing the hands with cooking oil makes cleanup easier.
The banana flower is considered to be a good source of vitamins A and C. It is traditionally believed to be beneficial as a lactating agent and is also believed to help relieve menstruation cramps.
Ingredients
01 Piece Banana Flower
100 g chopped onion
25 g chopped Garlic
Pinch of chopped curry leaves
01 Piece chopped Green chili
01 tbsp turmeric powder
01 tbsp madras curry powder
01 tbsp whole dry red chili chopped
100 ml thick coconut milk (available in supermarkets)
50 ml Olive oil or cooking oil
01 piece lemon
Salt to taste
Method
-Cut the banana flower in to four.
- Remove the wedge (hard part).
- Cut into very thin slices.
- Add lemon and turmeric powder to salted water and soak the slices in the water for 30 minutes.
- Fry onions, garlic, curry leaves, green chili, red chili, and curry powder.
- Drain the banana flower well and add to the frying spices above.
- Cook banana flower 10 to 15 minutes
- Add thick coconut milk and salt and keep cooking till dry.
- You can also add deep fried small fish.
The banana flower is treated in several Asian and tropical cuisines as a vegetable. Once the tougher, darker outer brackets are pulled away, the paler and more tender inner leaves are used in a number of dishes, prepared in a variety of ways.
A fresh, tender banana flower may be sliced and served raw, as in Thailand, where it is often accompanied by a hot and spicy dip called nam prik.
It is also served simmered in soup or fried with thin noodles. Other Asian and Indian cuisines add the sliced banana flower to meat stews, stir-fries, soups, and rice or noodle combinations.
It is also used in cold salads, with the salad mixture presented to the diner in one of the large purple-red outer brackets.
Many cooks familiar with the banana flower suggest wearing gloves or coating the hands with cooking oil prior to working with it. The cut ends of the banana flower leak a sap that will stain skin and other surfaces black.
The precaution of rubbing the hands with cooking oil makes cleanup easier.
The banana flower is considered to be a good source of vitamins A and C. It is traditionally believed to be beneficial as a lactating agent and is also believed to help relieve menstruation cramps.
Ingredients
01 Piece Banana Flower
100 g chopped onion
25 g chopped Garlic
Pinch of chopped curry leaves
01 Piece chopped Green chili
01 tbsp turmeric powder
01 tbsp madras curry powder
01 tbsp whole dry red chili chopped
100 ml thick coconut milk (available in supermarkets)
50 ml Olive oil or cooking oil
01 piece lemon
Salt to taste
Method
-Cut the banana flower in to four.
- Remove the wedge (hard part).
- Cut into very thin slices.
- Add lemon and turmeric powder to salted water and soak the slices in the water for 30 minutes.
- Fry onions, garlic, curry leaves, green chili, red chili, and curry powder.
- Drain the banana flower well and add to the frying spices above.
- Cook banana flower 10 to 15 minutes
- Add thick coconut milk and salt and keep cooking till dry.
- You can also add deep fried small fish.