Banana with Coconut Sauce:

Talking about dishes made from bananas, we cannot forget Banana with Coconut Sauce.  In Vietnam, chuối xiêm (Siamese banana) is often used when it’s not fully ripe to prepare this dish.  However, in other places like the U.S., it’s difficult to find chuối xiêm. In this recipe, I will use plantains, a banana commonly found in Mexican cuisine.  When plantains are just about ripe, they make an excellent substitute for chuối xiêm.

Although the dish is called "stir-fried banana," it’s not actually stir-fried.  The bananas are boiled until soft, then sliced thinly.  This step can be done the day before, as the bananas become more tender after cooling.  The coconut cream is cooked with tapioca pearls or sweet potato pearls depending on your preference. It shouldn't be too sweet, just a little salt added, and some roasted peanuts, making this a nutritious and satisfying snack.

Ingredients:

• 3 plantains (not fully ripe)
• 14 oz. coconut cream
• 1/4 cup tapioca pearls
• A few pandan leaves (optional)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1.    Preparing the plantains:

·         Clean the plantains, then boil them with 1/2 tsp of salt and 1/4 cup sugar until they are cooked through.

·         Let the plantains cool, then slice them thinly.

2.    Preparing the tapioca pearls:

·         Soak the tapioca pearls in water for about 15 minutes to soften.

·         Add the coconut cream to a pot along with 1/2 cup of water.  Add the soaked tapioca pearls and cook on low heat.  Once the tapioca pearls have expanded and turned transparent, add 1/2 tsp of salt and the sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely.

3.    Combining the banana with the coconut sauce:

·         While the coconut sauce is cooking, slice the cooled plantains and add them to the sauce.  Simmer for another 5 minutes.

4.    Presentation:

·         Arrange the sliced bananas on a plate, pour the coconut sauce over them, and sprinkle with crushed roasted peanuts.

·         You can adjust the sweetness of the coconut sauce to your liking.  The sweetness of the bananas, the richness of the coconut cream, and the crunch of the roasted peanuts create a simple, yet delightful and comforting dish.

This snack is not only delicious but also nutritious, perfect for enjoying with family or as a dessert.  Feel free to adjust the sweetness based on your taste!