Banana Blossom Recipe (Vegan Fish & Chips)

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This Banana Blossom recipe (vegan fish)  will change your life — particularly if you thought you’d never consume anything that tasted like fish again! The banana blossoms’ delicate and flaky texture is ideal as a foundation!

I’ve had so many calls to try vegan fish made from banana flowers! They are believed to have a flaky feel similar to fish. The petals were marinated, battered, and fried, then served with chips, a splash of lemon, and homemade tartar sauce.

What is the outcome? With all of the trimmings, this dish is similar to, but not identical to, fish and chips. The consistency of the blooms, in my mind, isn’t nearly as believable as I’d heard it to be. However, that doesn’t mean this isn’t a truly good meal in its own way! We still loved it, and I believe it would satisfy your appetite for fish and chips. Smaller chunks would also be great in fish tacos with cabbage slaw or chipotle lime crema!

If you like trying new things in the kitchen, this dish is worth a shot, but if you’re looking for a noteworthy fish alternative, Gardein’s fishless filets are difficult to match! Both the consistency and taste are perfect.

What exactly are Banana Blossoms?

Banana blossoms are delicious flowers that develop at the tip of a banana bunch. Their petals are stacked, and the soft, flaky feel is similar to that of cooked fish.

If you’ve ever cooked with young green jackfruit, you’ll recognize the feel! Banana blooms, in my opinion, are less rough and have a more neutral flavor. I think they’d be fantastic in dishes like vegan pulled pork, shredded chicken, or crab cakes, just like jackfruit.

Where can I get Banana Blossoms?

Canned Banana Blossoms can be bought at an Asian grocery shop, although not all of them do. However, most owners are kind and buy in bulk when there is a high demand, so it’s essential to ask for some!

 

I’ve discovered canned banana blossoms in brine from these companies so far: AROY-D, Nature’s Charm, and Chaokoh. I’ve discovered that the banana blossoms from AROY-D are in better physical condition (larger pieces) and hence better for creating vegan fish, but if you can only get the Nature’s Charm ones, that’s fine. They’ll work as well!

You might also like: How to Make Crispy Banana Peel Bacon

What Is the Best Banana Blossom Brand?

The condition of the banana flowers will differ based on the brand. Nature’s Charm and Aroy-D have given me the most pleasing results. I don’t suggest the Chaokoh brand if you’re attempting to create vegan fish and chips. Their flowers are prone to breaking apart, resulting in little battered fish “nuggets” instead of filets or strips. On the other hand, if you’re creating anything like fish tacos, the smaller portions may suffice.

Banana Blossom Recipe (Vegan Fish & Chips)

Ok, time to make the banana blossom recipe, I have carefully tried making it several times, and this is how it turned out the best.

List of Ingredients

Fried Banana Blossoms

• 2–3 cups of frying oil

• 1 (29 oz) can of banana blossoms

The Eggless Beer Batter

• salt and pepper

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

• 1/2 tsp paprika

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 (12 oz) can of beer

The Fishy Marinade (Optional)

• 2–3 dried shiitake mushrooms

• 1-piece konbu, about 3 inches long

• boiling water

 

The Tartar Sauce

• salt and pepper

• 2 tbsp finely diced dill pickles, or pickle relish

• 2 tbsp capers (drained and roughly chopped)

• 2 tbsp minced white onion

• 1 lemon juiced

• 1 cup vegan mayo

Directions

Make the banana blooms.

1. Drain the banana flowers and rinse them to eliminate the salty taste. You’ll want to utilize the larger, complete banana blossoms rather than the tiny shredded bits. To guarantee you have enough large pieces, have an additional can of banana blossoms available.
2. Banana flowers have a somewhat bland flavor. To help them taste more “fishy,” marinade them in a seaweed and mushroom broth for a few hours or overnight. If you do not have time to do this part, go straight to the “Prepare your frying station” step.
3. Place the blooms in a glass Tupperware or other heatproof container to marinade. Throw in the dried shiitake mushrooms and a kombu strip. Fill the container halfway with boiling water. Leave them to cool on the counter before covering and refrigerating for a few hours or overnight.
4. When ready to create the “fish” and chips, take the blooms from the marinade and dry them thoroughly.

Prepare your frying station

1. When you’re ready to prepare your battered “fish,” warm about two inches of frying oil to 375° in a large pot or pan. I suggest using a thermometer to check the temperature for the best consistency.
2. After the blossoms have finished frying, you’ll need a dish or tray to set them on. Cover a baking tray with a paper towel to soak up extra oil, or preferably, use a wire cooling rack. The wire rack would enable any excess oil to trickle off without touching the blossoms.

Batter and dredge the banana blossoms

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, onion and garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper while the oil is heated.
2. Transfer approximately 1/4 cup of the seasoned flour to a dish or shallow basin. Blot your banana blooms dry before gently dredging them in this dry mixture.
3. While whisking, gently pour the beer into the primary bowl of the flour mix.
4. Let the extra batter run off each banana blossom before carefully putting it in the hot oil. To prevent overflowing the pan, fry only a couple of a time. Fry them for four to six minutes, or until golden brown, flipping halfway through. Move to a pan lined with paper towels or a wire rack and promptly season with salt.
5. If necessary, place the fried “fish” in a heated oven (200°F) to keep it hot and crispy while you prepare the rest of your dinner.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

1. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, cover, and chill. To enable all of the flavors to mingle, make this a day ahead of time.

Suggestions

Frying oil: Vegetable, canola, peanut, and corn work well for frying.

Beer: I generally recommend light beers or anything with a simple flavor, such as a lager or brown ale. You can experiment with darker, maltier beers if you enjoy those.

Without beer: If you prefer not to use beer, you can substitute in 12 oz club soda.

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See Also: Best Vegan Salmon Recipe (Carrot Lox)

Conclusion

Hope you liked my banana blossom recipe, let me know in the comments how it turned out for you. 🙂