Bananas

Photo: flickr user .mands.

About

Fruit grown in tropical regions, that is high in potassium. Green when young and yellow when ripe. Bananas can be used when ripe and unripe. Green bananas make tasty savoury dishes, while ripe bananas are sweet to taste and are usually used to make drinks and desserts.

Information

Other names: Plantain, Banana

Translations: Banāni, Bananai, Banane, Banane, Chuối, Banany, Bananen, केले, Бананы, Μπανάνες, موز, 바나나, Banány, Pisang, Mga saging, 香蕉, Plàtans, Banane, Banány, Banane, בננות, Bananer, Банане, バナナ, Bananes, Bananen, Bananer, Bananer, Plátanos, Банани, Banaanit, Банани

Physical Description

Bananas are elliptically shaped fruits that have a firm, creamy flesh wrapped inside a thick inedible peel.

Colors: yellow green to golden yellow exterior with a creamy white interior

Tasting Notes

Flavors: sweet

Mouthfeel: Firm but soft and creamy, Starchy

Food complements: Cream, Caramel, Peanut butter, Tropical fruits, Yogurt, Chocolate

Wine complements: Reisling, Sparkling wine, Cremant de bourgogne, Beaumes-de-venise, Monbazillac

Beverage complements: Milk, Cocoa, Rum, Brandy

Substitutes: Very ripe black plantains

Selecting and Buying

Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december

Choosing: Look for firm, bright yellow bananas that don't have black spots or blemishes. You should be able to detect a light fragrance through the skin.

Buying: Bananas are widely available at all grocers.

Procuring: Bananas are a tropical fruit, principally grown in parts of southern Asia, Latin America and South America.