Banana Tree Flower Recipe – Beginner’s Healthy Guide

Ever wondered how to make a simple and healthy banana tree flower recipe while walking past its tree in the market? Then, you’re not alone. With full flavor, tradition, and health benefits, this dish is a treasured ingredient in South Asian kitchens. But finding it hard to clean and prepare, many people skip it. Good news, though, it’s not as complicated as you think.

A nourishing recipe, fully flavored, packed with nutrients, and perfect for vegetarians is what you’ll learn to make in this post. So, let’s get started to witness something new and delicious.

What is a Banana Tree Flower Recipe?

You’re in for a special treat if you’ve never cooked with a banana blossom. Packed with plant-based goodness and flavor, this deep purple bud, also called banana flower, grows at the end of a banana bunch.

For generations, traditional South and Southeast Asian cooking culture has used this banana blossom. Moreover, dishes from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines often contain it. It adds a mild, earthy taste to curry and stir-fries that is perfect for soaking up spices.

To make it a part of their everyday life and celebration, families during festivals pass down special banana dishes to each other. With full fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, easy to say that this humble bud is more than just a flower. And because of its texture, many consider it a good alternative for meat.

How to Clean Banana Flowers: A Step-by-Step Guide

For many, it may seem tricky at first to clean a banana flower, but once you know how, it becomes very easy. So, without creating any mess or bitterness, follow these simple steps to get your flower ready for cooking.

Step 1: Peel the Outer Layers

Remove the dark outer petals (called bracts) to start the cleaning process. For cooking, these are tough and not considered good. You’ll find small, yellow florets inside once you peel them off. Just remember:

• Until you reach the soft, pale layers inside, keep peeling
• They won’t all get used, though, so still save the florets

Step 2: Discard the Hard Parts

There is a small plastic piece called a style and calyx on the top of each floret, as well as a stick-like stem. These parts are not suitable for eating.

• Throw away these two pieces by gently pulling them out
• Banana blossom becomes soft and ready to cook

Step 3: Soak to Remove Bitterness

If not soaked properly, banana flowers can taste bitter. To fix that:

• Chop the cleaned florets and petals
• In a bowl of water mixed with lemon juice or a little buttermilk, soak them for 20-30 minutes.

Removing the bitterness using this step keeps the flower from turning black.

Quick Tips to Make It Easy

• To avoid staining, always wear gloves or rub your hands with oil.
• To reduce darkening, use a stainless steel knife.
• To keep the rest fresh longer, clean only what you need.

Now you’re ready to cook banana flower into something delicious once you have cleaned it.

How to Cook Banana Tree Flower Recipe

After cleaning the banana flower, now’s the time to prepare it and convert it into something tasty. To bring out its rich, natural flavor, there are so many easy ways to cook a banana flower.

Stir-Frying for Quick Meals

To cook banana flower (blossom), one of the fastest ways is to stir-fry.

• Add spices like mustard seeds, cumin, and turmeric after heating the oil in a pan.
• For extra flavor, toss in chopped onion, garlic, and green chilli in the pan.
• Cook for 10-15 minutes after adding the chopped banana flower to make it soft.

For rice or roti, this makes a perfect vegetarian side dish.

Steaming or Boiling for Simplicity

To keep things light and healthy, steaming or boiling helps.

• For 10-15 minutes, steam chopped banana flower.
• In another way to cut bitterness, boil banana flower in salted water with a splash of lemon juice.
• Use steamed pieces in salads or stuffings.

To keep the nutrients intact, this method is quite helpful.

Using Banana Flower in Curries

It is amazing to use banana flowers in traditional curries.

• Briefly cook or melt spices like coriander, cumin, chili powder, and garam masala.
• Add coconut milk or grated coconut, onion, and tomato.
• In the chopped banana flower, stir it and then simmer for 20-30 minutes.

It turns tender by absorbing the spices, creating a rich, comfortable dish.

Cooking Time and Spice Tips

• To avoid a mushy texture, keep cooking time short.
• For extra flavor, add coconut, lime, and herbs.
• To bring the dish to life, don’t forget to temper with spices.

Choose your style by considering all the cooking methods to make this banana tree flower recipe truly yours.

Traditional Banana Tree Flower Recipe with Coconut

Now let’s make a delicious banana blossom with a coconut dish having full traditional flavor. For any home cook wanting to experiment with something new, this recipe is simple, healthy, and perfect.

Ingredients of Banana Tree Flower Recipe

Collect these fresh and easy-to-find ingredients:

• 1 medium banana flower, cleaned and chopped
• ½ cup grated fresh coconut
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 green chilies, sliced
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• Salt to taste
• A few curry leaves (optional)

Step-by-Step Cooking Method of Banana Tree Flower Recipe

For a tasty recipe of banana tree flower that your family will love, make sure to follow these simple steps:

1. Prep the Banana Flower

• As described earlier, clean, chop, and then soak the banana flower.
• Drain and keep it ready.

2. Heat and Temper Spices

• In a pan, heat oil.
• By adding mustard seeds, let them pop.
• Add curry leaves and cumin seeds.

3. Sauté the Aromatics

• Add green chillies and chopped onions.
• Until the onion turns soft and golden, keep cooking.

4. Add the Banana Flower

• Blend in the chopped banana flower.
• Adding salt and turmeric powder.
• To coat well with spices, stir it.

5. Cook Until Tender

• Cover and cook for 10-15 minutes on low heat.
• To prevent sticking, stir it occasionally.

6. Add the Coconut

• Mix in the grated fresh coconut.
• For flavors to blend in well, cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Serve and Enjoy

• Turn off the heat.
• For a comforting South Asian meal, serve warm with rice or flatbread. 

Health Benefits of Banana Tree Flower Recipe

Packed with so many health benefits, the banana tree flower is more of a powerful food than just a tasty ingredient. Anyone looking to eat clean and feel good found this dish a perfect choice.

Packed with Good Stuff

To keep your body healthy and strong, banana blossom is enriched with full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.

• By keeping you full for a longer period, fiber supports digestion.
• Boosts your immune system through vitamin C
• Fight damage from free radicals by taking antioxidants

For a healthy banana flower recipe, these nutrients make it a great pick for anyone.

Good for Digestion and Hormones

It may help in the following ways to eat banana flowers regularly:

• Improve gut health by soothing the stomach
• In women, support hormonal balance
• Ease menstrual discomfort and reduce bloating

That’s why all across South Asia, banana blossom is recommended in traditional herbal diets.

Final Thoughts

This banana tree flower recipe is the perfect choice if you want something new and tasty in your kitchen. With full of health benefits and rich flavor, this recipe carries the warmth of South Asian traditional cooking. Additionally, it’s a fun way to connect with generations that loved food traditions.

So what are you waiting for? Prepare yourself to cook this delightful dish at home and enjoy the taste of something special. Happy cooking!