Even though bananas are commonly eaten, not everyone knows that the banana flower is one of the most nutritious parts of the plant. Banana flowers have a sweet and refreshing taste, which helps to cool down the body, regulate blood flow, cool the liver, and prevent the risk of stroke.
In particular, banana flowers contain many substances that help reduce stress, promote blood circulation, improve metabolism, prolong life, nourish the skin, and detoxify the body.
In addition to dishes like banana flower salad and bun rieu, you can also make stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly using the following recipe.
1. Ingredients for stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly
– Banana flowers
– Pork belly
– Tomatoes, garlic, chili
– Seasonings: MSG, salt, ground pepper
2. How to make stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
– After buying the banana flowers, remove the dark red peel and keep only the inside bud. The bud is hard and can cause a bitter taste, so you need to remove them.
– Wash the pork belly thoroughly, then rub salt on the surface several times to remove the characteristic fishy odor and rinse with clean water. After that, thinly slice the pork belly.
– Wash the tomatoes, cut off the top and dice them.
– Peel the garlic, rinse with water, and finely chop. Rinse the chili, remove the stem, and mince.
Step 2: Prepare the banana flower
– Put the banana flowers in a small bowl, add salt and rub them several times to remove the bitter taste.
– Remove the salt-rubbed banana flowers to a bowl of cold water and soak them overnight. Then, take out the banana flowers, rinse them with clean water, and let them drain.
– Place a pot of water on the stove, bring it to a boil, then add 1 tablespoon of salt. Next, put the prepped banana flowers into the boiling water for about 1 minute, then remove them to eliminate the bitterness.
– When blanching the banana flowers, you need to quickly remove them and put them in a bowl of cold water to keep the crispness and whiteness.
Step 3: Stir-fry the pork belly
– Heat a pan, add cooking oil and heat it up, then add garlic and chili to sauté. When you smell the aroma, add the pork belly and stir-fry until the meat changes color, then add the tomatoes and stir-fry together.
– Wait until the ingredients are slightly cooked, then quickly add the prepped banana flowers and stir-fry in high heat.
– Depending on your taste, season with a little salt, MSG, and stir quickly to let the banana flowers absorb the seasoning while retaining their crispness.
– After the banana flowers and pork belly are cooked, season it again for more flavor, then turn off the heat and transfer the dish to a plate.
After preparing this dish, stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly will have an attractive color and aroma. When eating, you can feel the crispy and delicious banana flowers combined with the sour and spicy, fatty flavor. It is best to serve this dish with hot rice.
3. Notes when making stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly
– Banana flowers contain sap, so when preparing them, you need to be careful because if they stick, it is difficult to wash them off.
– Banana flowers, although delicious, have a characteristic bitter taste. So when cooking, you need to rub salt, soak them overnight, and blanch them with boiling water.
– Tomatoes and ground pepper are ingredients that enhance the flavor of the dish. So you should not skip them when making stir-fried banana flowers with pork belly.
