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Are You Going Bananas ? (or for Chuo^'i?)

© lana lebozec

"The most delicious thing in the world is a banana" - Benjamin Disraeli, 1831.

The Vietnamese agree with Disraeli. The Chuo^'i or banana is their national fruit. Regardless of where you go in Vietnam. you will see bananas. In fact, bananas are usually grown in tropical areas, and their uses are quite versatile.

Here in America, there are several ways of preparing the banana fruit http://www.turbana.com/recipes.htm

In Vietnam, the plant grows in the wild on massive plantations as well as in backyard gardens.

No Vietnamese are ever far from a banana plant, so stated Steven Bailey in his book

http://www.destinationvietnam.com/dv/dv2...

Aside from the fruit itself, one also eats the stem and flower;

in times of famine the Vietnamese even consume the bulb. Banana leaves are used to wrap various cakes or meats

One Vietnamese author, Vu Cong Hau, noted that along with rice and bamboo, the banana is the peasant's best friend.

There are at least 28 different varieties of bananas in Vietnam

http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/

Bananas are rich in phosphorous. The fruits are eaten at breakfast or after dinner as a dessert, the crunchy blossom however is consumed in a salad plate.

http://wayne.hilburn.tripod.com//bananas...

Of all the banana dishes I find the banana sweet cake the most delectable.

Here is a recipe from

http://www.vietvillage.net/food/food_rec...

"This recipe can be done for any kind of ripe banana. Together with coconut milk, sugar, sago and peanuts, this sweet dessert is simply delightful.

INGREDIENTS

12 bananas, riper

1 cup sugar

½ cup sago

½ dried cassava dough

4 cups liquid coconut milk

1 cup coconut milk

Roasted peanuts

Some pandan leaves

PREPARATION STEPS

Soak sago and cassava dough in water for 2 hours. Heat liquid coconut milk with sago, cassava, and pandan for 15 minutes. Add the bananas When the bananas are done, pour in the thick coconut milk. Serve cool or cold in a bowl, sprinkle with grounded peanuts. Or try roasted sesame seeds."

Try this recipe, you will like it too!

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