Banana Stem Recipes- Grooming and Cooking Instructions

Banana Stem after removing outer layers

 Banana Stem is that part of the banana plant that is   above the ground and up to the branching off leaves.   The stem is made up of multilayers containing   mostly fiber. The upper layer is greenish and hard-   textured but not as hard as that of the trees. It easily   gets bent or broken by heavy winds or even by the   weight of its own fruits and leaves. But the banana   plant is a unique plant in which each part is used in   some way or other.

Now, let us come to Banana Stem Recipes.

Like other vegetables, you can cook delicious recipes using the stem of a banana plant. If you are growing a plant, you can cut the stem from above the ground level after it has borne flowers and fruits and its season is over. The roots can give rise to fresh plants. Alternatively, you can buy banana stem pieces from vegetable markets in India. They sell the stem pieces after removing the upper layers as shown in the above image.

How to Prepare the Banana Stem for Cooking

• Take a one-foot long (or even larger piece) banana stem and remove the hard layer.
• If you experience difficulty, cut the piece vertically and, then, begin removing the layers. First, the harder-most outer layer and then the inner coarse layers. When you remove 3 or 4 layers, you will reach to a smooth-looking stem.
• Now, cut this stem into small pieces. These pieces are used for the recipes.
• You can either pressure-cook or saute the pieces as the first step depending upon the type of recipe to be prepared.
• If pressure cooking, be careful to use as little water as needed for cooking the pieces (say one or two tablespoons of water).

Now, I am sharing two types of recipes made from this banana stem.

1) Banana Stem Recipe Using Tamarind Juice

Ingredients for Sour Recipe

• Banana Stem pieces
• Tamarind Juice measuring 2 tablespoons ( for pieces from one-foot stem)
• mustard seeds (2 tablespoons for making paste & one teaspoonful for topping)
• dry red chili long-sized two
• salt & turmeric powder to taste and flavor
• split ground nuts and cashew nuts

Preparation Tips for Banana Stem Sour Recipe

• Before beginning the cooking process, prepare the tamarind juice. You should soak the tamarind for 15 to 30 minutes and then extract the juice by removing the waste from it.
• Next, to make the mustard paste put the mustard seeds of 2 tablespoons into the grinding jar and add some drops of water. You may drop one red chili also if you prefer before grinding. Make it a soft and smooth paste.
• Remove the paste into a small bowl and keep all ingredients at hand.
• You may either cook the stem pieces in a pressure cooker (up to two whistle blows) or directly begin sauteing.
• Light the stove and place the deep cooking pan adding one tablespoon of oil.
• When the oil is hot, drop the red chili pieces and mustard seeds into it and fry till you hear the spluttering sound.
• Now, add the ground nuts/ peanuts and cashew nuts and fry till they show up a golden hue.
• Add the banana stem pieces and turn them briskly for a minute or two. If you have pre-cooked the pieces in a pressure cooker, you can directly add the tamarind juice at this stage and after a minute of cooking, you can mix the mustard paste also at this stage and complete your cooking process within two minutes. Otherwise, follow the below steps one by one.
• For direct cooking of the banana stem pieces after adding the peanuts and cashew nuts, add the salt and turmeric powder and saute them for 5 minutes.
• Now, add the tamarind juice and cook for another 5 minutes. Keep turning the stuff each minute for a perfect mix and cook. 
• Check whether it is soft and crispy. When perfect, add the mustard paste to it and turn briskly for a minute to mix perfectly.
• Now, your recipe is ready for serving.

You can serve this recipe to 3 or 4 persons.

2) Banana Stem Curd Recipe

This recipe uses curd in place of tamarind juice and requires no mustard paste.

Ingredients for Curd Recipe

• Banana stem pieces of one-foot stem
• Curd one cup
• Mustard seeds one tablespoon
• Dry Red Chili (one or two)
• Asafoetida one pinch & turmeric powder
• Salt (1/2 to One spoon as per your requirements)
• Coriander leaves for topping

Preparation Instructions for Banana-Stem Curd Recipe

• Cook the stem pieces in a pressure cooker with one cup of water. You can add the salt to it before placing the lid to cook.
• Cook up to 3 or 4 whistles and turn off the flame.
• Now, prepare the curd. Take a wide bowl of half a liter or so. Put the curd in it and add a pinch of turmeric powder to it. Mix it well. You can use a teaspoon or tablespoon to mix it well. Add neatly cut coriander leaves and mix again well.
• Now, take a small frying pan to fry the mustard seeds and red chili pieces. Put some oil in it and place on a low flame. Fry the seeds and pieces until you hear the spluttering noise. Immediately add the asafoetida powder also and turn well. Put off the flame.
• Now, pour those fried ingredients into the curd and mix well.
• Check whether the banana stem pieces are cool and then add them to the bowl of that prepared curd. Mix well. Your Curd recipe is now ready for serving.

You can serve this banana-stem curd recipe to four persons or more.