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by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer
Jamaican Banana is one of the few products still exported by Jamaica, and rightly so because the island has it in abundance. So in true Jamaican fashion, we have come up with many ways to enjoy bananas more than just peeling them back when they are ripe and boiling them when they are green.
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So here are some tasty ways to make use of your Jamaican banana.
We all love ripe bananas but, they will overripe or go bad in the blink of an eye. You don’t have to throw out your bananas when they become very ripe, banana fritters are the perfect way to make use of them.
Just grab those ripe bananas, the riper the better, crush them out with a fork as much as possible, then add your flour, salt and a bit of water. Mix together then fry on both sides until golden brown. Because of the high sugar content in ripe bananas, they may burn easily so keep a close eye on them.
By now you know of boiled dumplings and how it’s a favourite among Jamaicans right? Well, when I was growing up, my mom absolutely hated plain flour dumplings so she would add other ingredients to the flour.
Grated green bananas were one of them, and it actually tastes quite good. Plus, it is a great way to stretch your flour if you are running out.
This boiling pudding has several names, including Blue Draws, Duckunoo, and Tie-A-Leaf, and it originated in West Africa. This delicious dish is a starchy, cooked pudding made with green bananas that are typically eaten as a dessert.
But it can also be used as a snack. To make this quite easy, all you need to do is combine all your ingredients together, which should include grated banana, flour, coconut milk, sugar and other spices.
Place a scoop of the mixture on a piece of banana leaf, using it to encase the mixture, tying it all together with a string of banana bark. Add to a pot of boing water then cook for an hour. The tie-a-leaf is best had warm. It’s a sweet treat that everyone enjoys.
Strongback is a term used by Jamaicans to describe a beverage that contains a variety of substances and is thought to promote vigour, strength, and vitality. Raw peanuts, ripe bananas, oats, a milky ingredient like Supligen, condensed milk, or Lasco, as well as other ingredients are required for authentic Jamaican energy beverages.
When crafting a drink for stamina, a brew or tonic like Dragon, Guinness, Baba Roots, or even Magnum is crucial. A strong back can be made without banana but for most, it is a preferred option.
Growing up banana porridge was one of my all-time favourites. It is smooth and creamy and oh so delicious. This is another dish that requires some green bananas. You can choose to blend or grate your bananas, I prefer it blended as it gives it a smoother texture versus the more lumpy texture when it’s grated.
You will also need to add some vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon power, a pinch of salt, sugar and vanilla Lasco or condensed milk (some people even use both).
It doesn't take more than 30 minutes to make and will definitely keep you full. Plus all the amazing benefits green bananas bring such as iron, fibre, potassium and many more, make a healthy way to break your fast in the morning.
This is another great way to make use of well-ripped bananas. It is easy to make and requires just a few ingredients. All you need are butter, sugar, egg, ripe bananas, cinnamon powder, nutmeg and vanilla. Oh and milk too, raisins are a great option as well.
These are not often times made at home but can be found in every supermarket. To make them at home all you need to do is to slice your green bananas into thin slices and fried until crisp. Sprinkle with some salt and you have a delicious snack.
There you have it, 7 great ways to make use of the Jamaican banana.
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