- What actually is a banana blossom?
- How to prepare banana blossom
- 2 simple recipes with banana blossom
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The banana blossom, also known as the banana heart, has been one of the exotic delicacies and the latest food trends par excellence in our latitudes for some time now. This can be found in both Asian supermarkets and organic stores, either raw or pickled in s alt water. In today's post, we'll show you exactly what kind of flower it is, how he althy it is and how you can prepare it.
This is what the banana blossom looks like on the plantation
What actually is a banana blossom?
Yes, we all know bananas. But when it comes to her flowers, things are different. Only a few of us have seen them raw or prepared them ourselves. It's definitely worth trying, although banana blossoms aren't exactly cheap. You pay about 30 euros per kilo.
So a single flower usually amounts to 5-6 euros. It is not for nothing that the banana blossom is one of the exotic delicacies and is also offered here in Thai or Vietnamese restaurants in delicious dishes.
The reddish bracts of the banana blossoms are used in many ways
To be more precise, banana blossoms are the blossoms of the plantain. This looks similar to a corn cob hanging down at the end of the banana tree. The bracts are reddish to dark purple and protect the delicate interior of the flower. It is a so-called hybrid flower. This means that this one has both male stamens and female carpels. In this way, the flower fertilizes itself, so to speak, without relying on external conditions. Beneath the thick bracts are numerous buds of bananas, which successively become bananas. When the perennial has already developed enough bananas, the main blossom is cut off so that the fruit can develop faster and ripen better.
A real wonder of nature
Banana blossoms are also very he althy, by the way. Firstly, they are low in calories and secondly, they contain a lot of important Nutrients such as vitamins and minerals - vitamin C, beta-carotene, iron, calcium and phosphorus. Banana blossoms are also a good source of vegetable protein.
A remarkable flower that seems almost unreal
How to prepare banana blossom
In Asia, banana blossoms are considered a vegetable. They have a slightly bitter taste and are therefore first boiled in s alted water with a little lime juice. So you start by peeling the husks and peeling off the banana roots. The cases are too hard to eat, they can either be used as bowls for salads and dishes or as an original table decoration.
Remove the bracts and use as a table decoration
The inside, the actual banana heart, is very reminiscent of that of the artichokes. The end and the tip are slightly cut off before you start with the actual preparation. The front part is slightly more delicate and mild in taste and is ideal for preparing salads. The remaining banana flower is cut into pieces, lightly cooked as mentioned above and roasted or breaded. Banana blossoms taste delicious in many wok dishes, side dishes, stews and casseroles, but also as a vegan version of fish and meat.
Discover the secrets of Asian cuisine!
Extra tip: After peeling and cutting, the banana blossom discolors very quickly and looks unappetizing as a result. To prevent this from happening, you can rub the knife with lemon or lime.
2 simple recipes with banana blossom
Feel free to experiment with banana blossoms, both raw and pickled. Below are two of our favorite recipes featuring the savory exotic. Have fun preparing and good luck!
1 Vegan fish made from banana blossoms
The ingredients:
- Canned Banana Blossoms
- for the flour mixture: flour, s alt, nori, dill
- for the dough: flour, s alt, turmeric, cucumber juice, caper sauce (or more cucumber juice), water, lemon juice
- Frying Oil
The preparation:
Rinse and drain the banana blossoms. Prepare the flour mixture and dough by mixing the ingredients together well. Brush the banana blossoms with the flour mixture and fold them into the batter one at a time dive. Put them in the heated frying oil and fry until they turn slightly brown. Then place the fried buds on paper towels to remove excess oil. Best served warm with french fries. A fresh salad goes well with this, of course. Enjoy your meal!
The pickled banana blossoms really look like artichokes
Fried or breaded, these have a fish-like texture
2 Banana Blossom Salad
The ingredients:
- 1 Banana blossom, outer leaves removed
- Added 2 cups very cold water with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 1 clementine, separated and each section cut in half
- 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1/2 paprika, chopped
- 2 tbsp coriander and/or mint leaves, chopped
- chopped nuts
Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 2 tsp lime juice
- 1 / 2 tsp Tuong ot Toi (Vietnamese chilli garlic paste) or to taste
The preparation:
After peeling and cleaning, let the banana blossoms soak in cold water with the lime juice for about 20 minutes. Around this time, prepare the dressing by mixing all the ingredients needed for this. After soaking, remove the banana blossom from the water, dry it and cut into fine strips. Place in a large salad bowl and mix with the other fresh ingredients, then pour over the dressing and stir well. Done!
Banana blossoms - a delicious delicacy from the Far East
