Banana Blossom: The New Jackfruit?
In Asian cuisine, it’s already completely commonplace: banana blossom. In England, the flower is now gaining popularity as a vegan meat substitute. Does jackfruit have some competition?
It sounds very exotic, and it is, but banana blossom is very easy to find in the Netherlands. You can buy it at an Asian grocery store, simply canned.
Flower
So what exactly is banana blossom? It’s the flower at the end of a bunch of bananas. The flower is oval and completely pink, and you can steam, boil or even eat it raw. Traditionally, the flower is prepared as a vegetable and cooked in stews or soup. It’s also eaten in salads. Banana blossom has a slightly bitter taste and absorbs moisture well, making it perfect for marinades.
Fish & chips
The blossom is mainly used as a fish substitute because it has a flaky texture similar to that of fish. In London, it’s even already on the menu: banana blossom fish & chips. There, they marinate the banana blossom for a whole day in samphire and seaweed to give it a fishy flavour. Then they dip it in batter and deep-fry it.
Homemade
Want to make it yourself? This recipe is very easy. Prefer not to deep-fry? Then go for a paella or make a delicious salad.
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