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momoese
08-07-2010, 08:07 PM
We heard this on Good Food this morning and it sounded mighty tasty. She failed to mention that not all flower buds are great tasting, but with the right kind this might be a very nice salad.

Traveling to Vietnam; Woolly Pockets; Taco Trucks in Orange County - Good Food on KCRW (http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/gf/gf100807traveling_to_vietnam)


Julie’s Banana Flower Salad

Using recipes from our cooking classes at the Metropole in Hanoi and the Cargo Club Cooking School in Hoi An as a base, Julie perfected this salad. Highlighted by the hot-tart play of chili and lime off the crisp rings of the banana flower, it is a refreshing dish that is perfect for a hot summer day. If banana flowers are unavailable, a good substitute is peeled and shredded green papaya.



Salad:

2 banana flowers, thinly sliced (see directions)

2 Tablespoons peanut oil

Scant 1/4 cup shallot, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup roasted peanuts, chopped

1/2 cup fresh mint, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup fresh Thai basil, coarsely chopped

3 Tablespoons lime juice + 1 lime for the bowl of water

Large bowl of room temperature water

Dressing:

3 Tablespoons lime juice

2 tsp brown sugar

1 red Thai chili, chopped

2 tsp fish sauce

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1. Heat the peanut oil in a large skillet. Sauté the shallots until golden brown. Leave them in the oil, and set aside to cool.

2. Squeeze fresh lime juice into the bowl of water. This will be used to prevent the banana flower slices from turning brown.

3. Peel back the dark purple layers of the banana flower until you reach layers with just a hint of purple. Using a mandoline, slice the banana flower into thin rings, beginning at the point and slicing about three-quarters of the way down. The rings will look similar to onion rings. Immediately soak the rings in the lime water until ready to use. Set aside.

4. Once the oil is cool, mix in half of the mint leaves and half of the Thai basil with the sautéed shallots.

5. Mix the dressing ingredients in a separate bowl. Heat lovers will want to add more chili.

6. When you slice the banana flower, you will end up with small bits from the center of the flower. Strain these out using a spoon. Don’t worry if you don’t get all of them. Remove the banana flower from the water, and combine with the shallot/mint/basil mixture, chopped peanuts, and remainder of the fresh mint and basil.

7. Toss in the dressing, and serve.

Serving: 4 as a side or 2 as a main dish.

CValentine
08-07-2010, 08:56 PM
Very Cool Mitchel!!! :-D ~Cheryl

Bob
08-08-2010, 06:05 AM
Thanks Mitchel. I havent cut mine off yet but think I'll be trying this recipe when I do!

MediaHound
08-08-2010, 01:43 PM
Nice find, thanks!

momoese
09-12-2010, 08:16 PM
I tried this using an FHIA and a Pisang Klotek flower and just one tiny piece made my tongue feel like chalk so I scrapped the whole mess. Maybe Balbisania flowers are better.

hope
10-23-2010, 02:27 PM
that sounds like a good salad, but l guess l will have to see if other banana flowers work-like ice cream banana.

DOMinPuna
10-27-2010, 02:59 PM
DOMinPuna here...my neighbors are Filipinos. They do many things with the flower from a banana. The only banana flower I ever tasted wasn't much...certainly not worth the effort...but, that's just my opinion.

DOMinPuna
10-27-2010, 03:06 PM
I'm new here, so I guess I'll ask a stupid question. Has anyever conducted a survey to identify the top 10 bananas by taste preference? I have not tasted all varieties, but I sure do have some likes and dislikes. My favorite is Cuban Red, next is Williams, Apple, Lady Finger and Grand Nane. I recently tasted a banana at our farmers' market "Wok". I believe it is a Chinese cooking banana that the dude was trying to sell as an out of hand eating banana. Any comments?
DOMinPuna

hope
10-29-2010, 11:03 PM
hi, l am not sure how to welcome a new member but here goes. Welcome to DOMinPuna, nice to have you on board. good idea on the survey but l haven't tasted a lot of different kinds of bananas. l have tasted different kinds but l do not know the names of them. my banana orchard is young so my only trophy is lcecream banana. hope

shilisha
09-17-2012, 03:25 AM
Thanks Mitchel!
Love it!:woohoonaner: