Going Bananas: A three-tiered meal with a Jamaican touch

An instant energy booster,�banana�is a fruit that is commonly available across the globe. It is also a great source of potassium.

Jamaican men savor banana due to its high fiber content. The fruit is also abundant in its nutritional value, and is once, a part of the staple diet in Jamaica as well. The banana finds application in several dishes, and it is known for its negligible effect on blood sugar levels too! Bakers tend to make use of the banana quite a bit, to make cookies and breads.

When it comes to growing bananas, they can survive in an array of climates. Banana plantations can be established in hilly, urban, as well as rural farmlands. The fruit is easily accessible from the boughs of the parent plant. This explains the abundance of the banana.

Insight

Jamaican cuisine often involves a rich mix of ground meat and vegetables. It is unique in flavor, and is also eclectic to the tongue. Yams and banana find quite a bit of application in Jamaican food. The Mackerel Rendung is a popular dish that incorporates the fruit. Since there is abundance of moisture in the Jamaican biosphere, it makes it conducive for the growth of bananas, and this explains its frequent use in local dishes.

Pre-Preparation

I wouldn’t have been able to complete the recipe without the assistance I received from the grocery store near my house. I was able to source a lot of fresh items to cook my banana-themed meal that include:

Ripe bananas, strawberry yogurt, Cornstarch, vanilla flavoring, artificial banana flavoring, cinnamon powder, counter flour, brown sugar, Jack mackerel, coconut milk powder, coconut juice with pulp, onion, escallion, thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, vegetable oil and soy milk.

Since I’m pretty adept and enthusiastic about cooking, I referred to a Kendel Food Line Pocket diary to make these recipes. It’s a really handy book to go by when you’re trying out things and experimenting in the kitchen.

Meal Preparation:

Mackerel Rundung

You might think fish and bananas don’t seem to go well together, but the Mackerel Rundung will prove you wrong. It is a Jamaican favorite, and combines a host of flavors together. Here’s what you need to make it:

  • 1 can (425g) Jack mackerel,
  • two packs coconut milk powder,
  • a couple tbsps. Vegetable oil,
  • � scotch bonnet pepper,
  • a cup of hot water,
  • one large onion chopped,
  • one medium-sized tomato,
  • a stalk of escallion,
  • thyme and garlic if desired.
Image: Xavier Stephens on Pinterest

Procedure

  1. Heat the frying pan with vegetable oil,
  2. Using another bowl, saut� the onions, escallion, thyme, pepper and garlic for one minute.
  3. In a small bow,l pour coconut milk powder and dissolve with hot water.
  4. Pour the coconut milk in the frying pan and allow to simmer on a low flame for 5 minutes.
  5. Cook the tomato sauce and the mackerel and flake.
  6. Add Jack Mackerel to Rundung sauce and allow it to simmer for 2 minutes. Serve with yam and banana.

 

I think it was surprisingly easy to prepare this meal! It pretty much proves that the banana is the king of versatility on the table of fruits and vegetables. The fact that it is abundant makes it a lot more understandable as to why every culture uses the banana so frequently to cook with. If you/re ever in doubt about eating a healthy meal, going bananas is the best choice!

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.