JoeS475

I notice some people use banana leaves to cook with, wrapping fish and meats etc...

Why is this done? Does it give a certain flavour or texture to foods? Or is it more of an exotic flare, for show at dinner parties and stuff?

Thanks,

~Joe

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Lagniappe

Hi Joe,
I can't say if they (banana leaves ) add flavor but I can say for certain that they are used extensively anywhere that they are grown .
We humans , being so resourceful, use whatever is available and economical in our food prep.
Take tamales , for example . My family has used corn shucks / husks to encase their tamales for cooking for as long as anyone can remember .
When I asked why , I was told simply that they were always available .
I lived in belize for just over a year and in Panama for a little over two years and every tamale I ate was encased in , you guessed it , banana leaves . Why? , There was no corn being grown in the regions and banana plants were everywhere . I have also had fish ,rice , iguana ,prawn ,cayman and iguana eggs that were prepared wrapped in banana leaves ,cooked on beds of coals,with coals placed on top .
I use them in dishes here(When entertaining) . Not because they are practicle but more for the exotic flare that you asked about .

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I'm not tipsy ! I'm just not very articulate and maybe a lil tipsy .

Tangy

I don't think they add flavor, rather they are like a natural form of parchment paper, used to seal in moisture. Growing leafs is actually on of my main objectives for growing bananas. I hope to learn how to use them on the grill. I think they are used alot for steaming.

JoeS475

Thanks for the info guys!

~Joe

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Lagniappe

I was watching "Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern " on The Travel Channel and they were showing banana leaves in a mexican market . They also used them with some red snapper and claimed that they added a nutty taste to the fish . Thay also had what appeared to be wax paper ...it was layers of agave leaves . They just peel of the (outer?) layers to get this 'parchment'.
The show will replay tommorow @ 4:00 and they will have other episodes as well . There will be one from the Philipines ,Taiwan , Trinidad and Tobago ,Alaska , and Spain . These start At 2:00 central and the Mexico episode is at 4:00 and again at 8:00 central on The Travel Channel
Bon Appetit !

__________________
I'm not tipsy ! I'm just not very articulate and maybe a lil tipsy .

AnnaJW

I've done Salmon wrapped in a banana leaf on the grill and it was wonderful! Although it pains me to cut a leaf off just to cook something.

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-Anna Banana -


From the earth we came,
to the earth we return...
in between we garden

AnnaJW

That makes me want to try making tamales with banana leaves. I'll bet they steam up great!

__________________
-Anna Banana -


From the earth we came,
to the earth we return...
in between we garden

shopgirl2

yes, bananas add a particular delicate taste to dishes. I use it to cook many types of rice recipes. I grew up with the taste and I KNOW it does impart a taste and aroma that unless you are familiar with it, it will pass unnoticed. The taste is now is here and now is not. Aroma is the same. like "embrace me, you won't have me forever."

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I do my thing and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations and you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am me, If by chance we meet, it's beautiful, if not, it can't be helped. (Nietzsche).

bencelest

I agree with Carmensol. Banana leaves impart a very unique taste whether in fish or rice or what you are cooking.
It is more like your cooking becomes special if they are wrapped or put above the banana leaves while cooking.
So we only do that on special occasions like wedding or Christmas feasts.
It also make the guests envy you for using banana leaves because they are hard to get and just like Anna said, it pains her to cut a part of her precious plant.
It can also be used as decorative while serving dishes on finest Oriental restaurants overseas.
Last Thanksgiving Day my wife asked me if she could have some banana leaves for cooking and I hate to disappoint her but I did. That's how much give importance to my bananas than to our guests.

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Banana Nut

z7banana

Hi everyone - green banana here.
Banana leaves do indeed provide a flavor to the foods when used.
I always donate all my banana fronds to those where I live that use them for cooking. The use around here is tamales and fish.
The frond serves many uses and several of you have mentioned. Please remember to recycle fronds that have been removed to those who could use them. Its the green thing to do.
Thanks ,
ROBAN