Plantain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cooking bananas |
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Large bunch of cooking bananas
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| Genus | Musa |
| Species | Musa × paradisiaca |
| Hybrid parentage | M. acuminata × M. balbisiana |
| Cultivar group | Cultivars from a number of groups, including the AAA Group, the AAB Group and the ABB Group |
| Origin | Primary: Southeast Asia, South Asia; secondary: West Africa |
A plantain is a type of fruit that grows on a plant from the Musa family. It's related to the sweet bananas you might eat for a snack. But plantains are different! They are usually cooked before you eat them, while sweet bananas are often eaten raw.
Plantains are firmer and have less sugar than sweet bananas. Because of this, they are often cooked, baked, or fried. In many warm, tropical places, plantains are a very important staple food. People use them much like we use potatoes.
Plantains first grew in Southeast Asia and South Asia. Later, they also became very popular in West Africa. Today, you can find plantain farms in many places around the world. These include the Caribbean, Central America, parts of South America, and even some areas of the Southern United States. They also grow in places like the Canary Islands, Egypt, Nigeria, and Taiwan.
How Plantain Plants Are Used
Plantain plants are amazing because many of their parts can be used, not just the fruit!
Plantain Flowers
Each plantain plant only flowers once in its life. The flowers grow in a large bunch at the end of a shoot. This bunch has many "hands" with individual "fingers," which are the fruits. Only the first few "hands" will grow into fruits.
In countries like Vietnam, the young male flower at the end of the bunch is used to make salad. In Laos, people often eat the plantain flower raw, adding it to a special kind of soup. In Kerala, India, a healthy dish called "Thoran" is made from the end part of the flower bunch. You can fry or boil it.
Plantain Leaves
Plantain leaves are very large and strong. Because of their size, they are often used as natural plates in many cultures! For example, in South India, meals are traditionally served on a plantain leaf. The way the food is placed on the leaf can even be important for Hindu rituals.
These leaves can also add a special smell to food. In Kerala, India, a food called "Ada" is cooked inside plantain leaves. Another dish, "Karimeen Pollichathu," also uses them.
In countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua, plantain leaves are used to wrap different kinds of food before cooking. This helps keep the flavor in. Foods like Nacatamales and Tamales are often wrapped in plantain leaves. The leaves are also dried and used to wrap corn dough for a Ghanaian dish called Fanti kenkey.
Plantain Shoots
After a plantain plant has produced its fruit, it can be cut down. Inside, you'll find a soft, cylinder-shaped shoot. This shoot can be chopped up and cooked! First, it's steamed, then often fried with spices. This makes a delicious dish called Posola in Assamese, which is a special part of Assamese cuisine.
