Unique “bananas knead with coconut” flavor

Along with coconut tree, banana is also a familiar one and planted around the garden by many people in Ben Tre province. Do not know ever since, banana and coconut are "couple" with a harmonious combination, create many featured dishes with fat, sweet flavor specially and be liked by many people, such as: banana grilled with coconut milk, banana baked with coconut, banana sweet soup, ... but there is a dish with special flavor and has imprinted into the memories of people here, that is “Banana knead with coconut”.

Bananas knead with coconut, which vegetables and sauce (photo by Bao Tram)

For the best dish, bananas are used for cooking must be old, almost ripe. Firstly, we have to wash and soak bananas into the water to reduce gum, and then sort, pour water into a pot; and cook them. When we see bananas turning soft and cracked shells with yellow color they are ok. We should choose old bananas but not so ripe because when we eat, they will be very sweet. Secondly, we take out and peel bananas; then we knead them with curetted coconut; in this process, we can add some salt, sugar into the blend and it will have a special flavor very much.

Although it is very simple, the taste of this dish is extremely unique. There are many different ways to enjoy it. In many places, people enjoy this dish with many kinds of vegetables around their garden, such as lettuce, herbs, basil, ... and eat with fish source which is mixed with garlic, chili, and fresh coconut water. We can roll “bananas knead coconut” with vegetables and sauce. The acrid flavor from vegetables; fatty, salty, sweet flavor from “banana knead coconut”; spicy, odorous flavor from fish source. Everything will be blended together and made everyone who has ever tasted always want to enjoy more. In some places, people enjoy this dish with peanut and they don’t need vegetables or fish source because they want to feel the greasy banana itself fatty. You can enjoy this dish with someways you want because the flavor is always special. Anyone who has ever enjoyed “bananas knead with coconut” also has commented that only in Ben Tre people can make it become the greasy and soft level of blend and banana’s odorous flavor.

According to the timeline with the variety of other attractive dishes but with people in Ben Tre province, this dish is really a familiar and special dish of each family. “Banana knead coconut” has imprinted in the memories of people here and anyone who has loved it because of unique and special flavor. If you have opportunity, you should visit Ben Tre province once to enjoy this dish; certainly, you will want to come back here again./.

Writter: Bao Tram

Translator: Tuong Vi