Banana Flower Stir Fry
A popular Sri Lankan dish, this banana flower stir fry makes a delicious, highly aromatic, unique, and healthy side dish to a variety of meats and vegetables.
Banana flowers are the blossoms from a banana tree. During my childhood years in Sri Lanka, banana flowers were used in everything from salads to curries to soups. They were easily found everywhere from roadside vendors to specialty supermarkets.
My mom loved cooking banana flowers and during our childhood, my sister and I were lucky to enjoy it in many curries and sambols.
However, when my mom moved to Atlanta, banana flowers were hard to find. At least, that was until we began frequenting a South Asian store called Cherians – where she found her first banana flower outside of Sri Lanka.
I had forgotten all about my mom’s favorite veggie until I spotted a fresh banana flower at Cherians one day. I knew right away that I had to enlist her help in cooking it!
What is a Banana Flower?
A banana flower (also called a banana blossom or banana heart) is the large, teardrop-shaped, purple bud that hangs from the end of a bunch of bananas.
It is made up of three parts:
- Bracts ~ the purple, leaf-like layers that wrap around the bud.
- Florets ~ the small, pale blossoms tucked in rows under each bract.
- The heart ~ the tender, pale core you reach once the bracts and florets have been peeled off.
Female flowers vs. male flowers
Here is something I got wrong when I first wrote this post (thank you to a sharp-eyed reader for pointing it out!). A banana plant makes its female flowers first. Those are the first rows of florets that open up along the stalk, and they are the ones that grow into bananas.
Once those are done, the plant keeps making male flowers. These stay tucked inside the purple bud at the very end of the stalk, and they don’t turn into bananas. So, the bud is usually cut off once the bananas have formed ~ and that is the banana flower you find at the store!
While it might not look pretty in a vase on your table, it makes one mean stir fry! Banana flower dishes are common in South Asia, but, every one seems to have their unique way in preparing it.
My mom throws away the little blossoms and finely dices the heart and the tender purple bracts (after the more brittle outer layers have been discarded); and makes a stir fry with a ton of spices.
What does banana flower taste like?
When prepared correctly, banana flower tastes a bit earthy and mild. It reminds me of artichoke hearts or hearts of palm!
However, if it isn’t prepared correctly, banana flower can taste bitter. So, take your time cleaning it, and keep the cut pieces in a bowl of cold water with lemon as you go.
How to clean a Banana Flower:
Others, though, clean the florets by removing the “pistil” (the more brittle stick with a head on it) and the “scale” (the small, translucent part). Then, they use the florets in a stir fry or curry.
I decided to incorporate my mom’s method with what I have seen others do, so I cleaned the blossoms and also chopped up some of the tender bracts and the hearts.
However, it just slipped my mind to immerse the blossoms, heart and tender bracts in a bowl of cold water with lemon, hence the slightly darker blossoms.
While chopping, there seems to be a slimy discharge – which is easily rinsed off under cold water or in a bowl of water with lemon.
Step by step: how to clean a banana flower
- Rinse the banana flower under cold water. Then, fill a large bowl with cold water and a squeeze of lemon.
- Peel off the purple bracts one at a time. Discard the tough, brittle outer ones, and place the tender inner ones in the lemon water.
- Pull out the florets tucked under each bract. Remove the pistil and the scale from each one, then add the florets to the lemon water.
- When you reach the pale heart, rinse it, chop it, and add it to the bowl too.
- If the sap makes things a little slimy, simply rinse it off under cold water.
Where can I buy a banana flower?
Look for fresh banana flowers at South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Latin American grocery stores ~ like Cherians here in Atlanta, where my mom found her first banana flower outside of Sri Lanka. Pick one that feels firm and heavy, with tightly closed, glossy purple bracts.
Let’s cook a Banana Flower!
I sautéed the chopped parts of this veggie in 2 tablespoons of olive oil with onions, ginger, garlic, a small red chili pepper, and a few spices. And, served it on a bed of spinach with an egg on top. When I was a kid, we ate banana flower stir fry with rice and maybe another curry (like this lentil curry); but there’s a plethora of serving options for this flower!
Ingredients
- 1 banana flower
- 1 red onion
- 2 tsp fresh ginger
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 small red chili pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- cilantro and red chili flakes to garnish
Instructions
- Clean the banana flower by rinsing under cold water. Remove the outer "bracts" purple leaves and set them aside in a bowl of cold water with lemon.
- Pull out a "blossom" tucked inside and remove the "pistil" (the more brittle stick with a head on it) and the "scale" (the small, translucent part) and discard these. Place the blossom without the pistil and scale in the bowl of cold water with lemon, with the bracts.
- When all the blossoms have been cleaned, you will have the heart of the banana flower. Rinse it and chop and place in the same bowl along with blossoms and bracts.
- Chop onion, ginger, and garlic and add all three to a saucepan with the olive oil. Turn on the stove to medium heat and saute onions, ginger, and garlic for about 10 minutes, stirring often.
- Add in the banana flower heart, blossoms, and bracts that were cleaned and stir well.
- Chop up the small red chili pepper and add it to the onion mix.
- Add in the coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, and turmeric, and stir well for a couple more minutes.
- Season with salt and pepper and garnish with cilantro and red chili flakes.
- Enjoy as a side, or serve with spinach and an egg as a meal.
The mention of childhood memories with banana flowers really resonated. It’s great how the recipe connects past traditions to the kitchen today. I appreciate the simplicity in balancing spices for a healthy side dish.
That turn from remembering falooda to finding a fresh banana flower at Cherian’s and immediately bringing your mom into it gave this such a grounded warmth. You made the dish feel preserved, not just prepared.
You are correct I didn’t realize the red pepper was part of this recipe until halfway through. Also, it doesn’t specify how much olive oil to put in the pan. Furthermore, a stirfry doesn’t even use a pan olive oil or a 10 minute frying
A few months ago, I had Banana flower for the first time and though it was flaked crab meat. Had never even heard of it before.
It’s on my menu to try today.
Thank you for the recipe.
I’m going to try this recipe, looks great! We have our first banana flower ready for harvesting this weekend 🙂
One little correction for you though… the flowers within the bracts here are male flowers, not female flowers. The female flowers emerge from the bracts first, and become bananas.
I am eager to try this recipe of yours, but after reading the recipe instructions, i didn’t see when i am supposed to add the banana????
Hi Stacey – thanks so much for stopping by – the banana flower is added in right after the onions, ginger, and garlic. Hope you enjoy it!
The recipe is missing some steps. The banana flower is set aside in a bowl of water and never referred to again – although a red pepper, not in the ingredients list makes an appearance. I added the pepper and put the drained banana flower in at the same time. I found that the spices overwhelmed the taste of the banana flower so would reduce them slightly next time. I used a little white wine to deglaze after the onions.
Another great recipe to try. Some I am completely new and most of all, curious about!
I’ve never heard of cooking banana flowers before, it looks beautiful!
Thanks so much Mary
Really fun post! I’ve never used banana flowers. But after your thoroughly interesting post, I won’t rest until I’ve hunted down a source! Terrific dish — thanks.
Thanks so much – I am hoping you find some and enjoy them as much as my daughter and I did
So interesting…had never even heard of this before…am sending this to my sister as it is right up her alley!-Ashley
Thanks so much Ashley – hope your sis likes it 🙂
BANANA FLOWER! WTF?!?! never heard of this before in my life!! COOL!
Thanks lady!
I’ve always seen banana flowers at the Dekalb Farmers Market, but didn’t know how to prepare them. Your recipe sounds delicious, Shashi! I’m going to grab one the next time I’m there. Great post!
Thanks so much Bill! It’s been too long since I made it to the Dekalb Farmers Market…guess a trip is due!
This is super duper interesting. I’ve never heard of banana blossoms before and I’m so intrigued. As soon as I recover from this stupid flu, I’m heading to Asian store down the street to get me some!
Great recipe Shashi!
Thanks so much Mike – am a little late replying – so am hoping you have given this flu the boot!
I have never even heard of cooking with – or eating even! – banana flowers before! Im so intrigued to see what they taste like. Lovely recipe 🙂
so yummy!I am really eager to grab this.Banana blossoms are one of my favourites
Wow, love that you made a stir-fry with banana flowers – so so creative!!! I have never tried banana flowers before but now you’ve totally got me intrigued. Love how pretty and colorful this dish is – way to go on rocking these challenges 🙂
I have never seen banana flowers before – so cool! This stir fry is so creative! And now I want to try a banana flower!
OK ,this has got to be one of the most creative/exotic flowers used in this month’s ReDux! I’ve never heard of banana flowers and now I’m itching to try them AND your yummy looking stir fry!
you seriously are the most creative cook!!! i love me some banana flowers, must try!
Yum! I have never cooked with flowers before! What a cool idea! The next time I am in Atlanta, it is going to be for more than 18 hours and we are going to eat some good food!
I’ve never eaten or even seen a banana flower before! The stir-fry looks so good!
Never seen banana flowers before. But I am intrigued
Wow! What a challenge. I’ve never cooked with ‘flowers’ obviously I cook with ‘flours’ though.
I wouldn’t have a clue how to cook something yummy with them either. Great job!
So interesting! I’ve never even heard of banana flowers let alone cook with them! Learn something new every time I come over to your blog 🙂
This looks so yummy! I saw edible flowers at the store the other day and was all “what the heck are those?!” I would have never thought to make a stir-fry. You’re so creative lady!! Yum! Pinned!
Wow this looks absolutely delicious! I love how you always use such innovative ingredients and banana flowers are no exception. I don’t think we have them here but now I wish we did 🙂
I hope you had a lovely weekend <3
I’ve heard of people eating banana flowers but I’ve never seen it done and certainly, I’ve never seen banana flowers for sale in the green grocer’s. This has been really interesting and I hope to try banana flowers one day xx
I’ve had banana flowers in a salad only but I think I’d love this stir-fry!
Well now Ive got to see if our international market carries banana flowers so that I can try- such an interesting dish!
I have never heard of banana flowers before!! This looks yummy.
I love eating banana flower but I must admit that I have never made it in a recipe! Thanks for this! 😀
This sounds so cool! I’ve never had banana flower stir fry but it sounds like something I’d love!
What an interesting dish, Shashi! Where did you get the banana flower? I would love to try it. I have heard great things about this — it was told to be quite aromatic and sweet.
Wow – I would have had no idea what those were or how to use them!!! The stir fry looks awesome!
I’ve never heard of banana flowers and am ashamed to say I didn’t even know they existed. Your stir fry looks delicious and I would love to try this dish. Banana Flowers must be available at Asian Markets I would imagine.
Whoa! I have never seen these flowers before and am so impressed by what you’ve done with them!
Omigoodness… now this is definitely one of the most creative recipes I’ve ever come across. To be honest, if I were told to use edible flowers, I’d probably just make some kind of a salad out of them. Great job, Shashi!
This recipe is so creative, Shashi! I’ve never heard about banana flowers until now but I’m definitely going to look out for it next time I’m at a speciality fruit/veggie store! I’m sure this recipe would leave your mom feeling super proud 🙂
This is so exotic and delicious.