Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is banana blossom the next vegan food star with the texture of fish? ›

Banana blossoms are an edible flower that grow at the end of a bunch of bananas. Their petals are layered, and many liken the tender, flaky texture to that of cooked fish. If you've ever cooked with young green jackfruit, the texture is a bit similar!

Banana blossom has “quite a neutral flavour, so it absorbs flavours really well. We've been soaking it in kombu and wrapping it in nori, to put that fishy flavour through it, and created a battered cod-esque fillet,” she said. As banana blossom is fibrous, it can stand a lot of seasoning.

To create the flavour and texture of fish, manufacturers use a variety of different ingredients. Some common ingredients found in vegan fish are chickpeas, pea protein, soy, tofu and potatoes.

If you enjoy eating jackfruit like BBQ pulled pork, your mind is about to be blown by the next big plant-based meat alternative for fish: banana blossoms. This isn't a new ingredient by any means.

Unlike the sweet banana fruit, the flowers offer a mild to neutral taste, making them an ideal vegetarian alternative to fish, absorbing flavors from other ingredients in the recipe and mimicking the flaky texture of some fish.

Banana flower is rich in nutrients, including fiber, antioxidants, and numerous minerals. Emerging research indicates that it may aid digestive health, prevent prostate enlargement, support bone health, and help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Digestive Health: Banana flowers are rich in dietary fiber, promoting healthy digestion, preventing constipation, and supporting overall gut health.

Ingredients. Rice Flake (Rice, Emulsifier: Sodium Alginate), Wheat Flour (contains added Calcium, Iron, Niacin & Thiamine), Mycoprotein (12%), Water, Natural Flavouring, Rapeseed Oil, Stabiliser: Methylcellulose; Yeast, Salt, Paprika, Colour: Paprika Extract.

Most simply, a pescatarian is someone who doesn't eat red meat or poultry, but does eat fish and other seafood. The term pescatarian was coined in the early 1990s and is a combination of the Italian word for fish, “pesce,” and the word “vegetarian.” Sometimes it's spelled “pescetarian,” but this means the same thing.

Why is it OK for vegans to eat fish? ›

Vegans do not eat any animals or any food that is derived from animals. This means that vegans do not eat beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat. They also don't eat chicken, duck, and other poultry. And because fish are also living creatures, vegans don't eat fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.

Ethical vegans believe that eating fish is unjust, harmful to animals, humans, and the planet. They also recognize the individuality of fishes and understand that being human does not justify complete control over the life of another being who thinks and feels as we do.

The flower itself does not taste bitter. The bitterness comes from the sap between the petals. Clean the flower thoroughly. If sap remains use a dilute lemon water solution to remove the rest.

Ways to Eat Banana Blossom

Found in Asian grocery stores in the US, banana blossoms can be eaten raw, and are also cooked in soups, stews, and curries.

The inner peach-pink core of the blossom is what's typically cooked. Since it's quick to oxidize and turn brown, raw banana blossom should be placed in cold water with a bit of salt or vinegar after chopping or shredding. (If you're using canned blossoms, they will come pre-cut or pre-shredded.).

Taiyaki (鯛焼き, lit. 'baked sea bream') is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of tai (鯛, red sea bream), which it is named after.

This delicious bloom is also known as banana blossom or banana heart. It's a dark red-orange or maroon cone-like plant that's frequently eaten in Asian countries, especially in curries, soups, salads, and cutlets.

Fresh banana blossoms are shaped like a teardrop and are typically purple-red on the outside—an outer layer peel that is removed before consumption. As you remove the peel, a sweet and floral aroma may emerge. The inner peach-pink core of the blossom is what's typically cooked.

Also known as 'banana heart', the inflorescence produced by this tropical plant will develop, if female, into a cluster of bananas. Banana blossom is often compared to artichokes: not only is the taste similar (with a slight hint of bitterness), but also the way in which it is prepared.