So, how many types of bananas do you know of? And did you know that bananas can be cooked? You didn’t know? well, read on…
Bananas thrive in tropical climates and are in 3 main types:
1. Green bananas (matoke:
These are the ones that are cooked by shallow frying and making stews.
If they stay too long(1 month) after harvesting, they get mushy and ripen on the inside, but the outside remains partly green and partly yellow. Incase they ripen, you can just eat them as a fruit, but they are not as sweet as this other type listed on no. 2.
2. Regular ripe bananas:
Eaten as fruits. These are in 2 sizes, big ones, and small ones(size of the middle finger), which are distinctively sweet and are called sweet bananas.
It’s important to note that not all ripe bananas turn yellow, we have varieties in Kenya that turn purple, while others remain green but are ripe.
One distinctive feature of ripe bananas meant to be eaten as fruits is that they are tender and mushy.
3. Ripe yellow bananas: Popularly known as plantains, they are cooked by deep frying.
They are usually longer in size and are pointy, they don’t get very tender and mushy when ripe, and they feel very compact.
I shall give you a plantain recipe in due course.
Now that you know the 3 main types of this fruit… wait, is it a fruit or a vegetable? I saw a certain publication classify it as a herb and a berry, confusing huh!
Well, for the purpose of this article, allow me to call this green type of banana a vegetable since we are cooking it.
So let’s cook green bananas(matoke), shall we…
Recipe
4 green bananas
2 tomatoes
1 medium-sized onion
1 medium-sized bell pepper
A bunch of coriander
A piece of avocado
Procedure
Peel the bananas, wash them, slice them into circular pieces, and set aside
Wash and chop your vegetables and set aside.
In a medium-sized pot, heat the cooking oil.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt over the oil, this helps reduce oil splatter when you put in your onions.
Slowly put your chopped onions in the hot oil, and let it cook till brown.
Add your chopped tomatoes, and let them cook into a thick sauce.
Throw in your chopped green bell pepper.
Immediately follow in with the sliced bananas.
Mix everything well, and let it cook on low heat in its own juices, for 7 minutes.
Add some water to cover the bananas, cover them with a lid, and let them cook again for 15 minutes.
Confirm if they are cooked, they should be tender and soft, if cooked, turn off the fire.
Sprinkle your chopped coriander over your now-cooked bananas(matoke), cover with a lid, and let the coriander cook in the steam.
Serve hot
Slice up a piece of avocado to accompany your cooked bananas(matoke).
Jienjoy(Enjoy yourself)
