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.

If you can't find any Banana Blossom, I recommend using jackfruit or chickpeas. Sesame seed oil: this adds so much flavour to Asian cuisines, but you can use olive or coconut oil. Onion: the base for most recipes. Fresh garlic and ginger: for a good punch of flavour.

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: Water, textured soy protein concentrate (16%), wheat flour, rapeseed oil, potato starch, flavouring, sea salt, linseed oil, thickener: methyl cellulose; spices, salt, yeast, dextrose, flaxseed flour, cornflour.

Pescetarianism (/ˌpɛskəˈtɛəri. ənɪzəm/ PESK-ə-TAIR-ee-ə-niz-əm; sometimes spelled pescatarianism) is a dietary practice based on the consumption of fish and shellfish to the exclusion of land-based meats.

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.

Seaweed-Nori, Kelp or Dulse flakes

They are often used as a salt substitute, but are a great way to add some fishy flavor. And, BONUS, seaweed gives your food added nutrients.

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.

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.

Banana Blossoms are also known as Banana Hearts, Banana Flowers and a host of other names.

Banana blossom has a meaty, tender texture that can resemble meat, making it a great plant-based alternative to substitute in our favourite dishes. It is also significant because it can be used to recreate the texture of fish, which is notoriously difficult to replicate with plants.

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.

You must peel off the outer layers to reveal the edible portion of this beautiful flower, which consists of the florets and the core (heart). You can then use the outer petals, which typically aren't eaten, as serving plates. This delicious bloom is also known as banana blossom or banana heart.