While banana is very well known, not many folks would be familiar with banana stem as a culinary ingredient. I must admit that I’m fortunate enough to have tasted this on several occasions. My mom makes this delicious dry curry, with sesame seeds as one of the key ingredients.
Banana Plant
Banana Stem
The Banana stem is not actually a stem – it is the flower stalk of the banana plant. The thick stalk grows up from the ground and form the backbone of the plant. The edible part of the Banana stem is the inner portion of the fibrous stalk. The rough and hard outer layers are removed to reveal the stark white and yellowish green stem. The remainder of the tough exterior can be peeled away. The stem has a crisp texture and a mild flavor, both somewhat sweet and tart with a slightly bitter after taste.
Banana Stem
Where To Buy Banana Stems?
Generally, Indian grocery stores in the US sell these in their produce section. My neighborhood Indian grocery often amazes me with its variety of produce. Moringa leaves, banana flowers, Malabar spinach, they almost have every item you can think of! My mom always has a banana plant in her backyard. Once it finishes its cycle of producing bananas, she has the plant uprooted, peels away all the layers and makes a delicious curry with the core. Of course, we would share with our neighbors too, as we always had plenty!
Banana Stem Curry
Undoubtedly, sesame seeds bring in the most dominant flavor to this dish. I love sesame! It brings such a unique flavor and is also bursting with nutrition. I think this curry is very similar to Puliogare, a South Indian rice dish served at Hindu temples. The ingredients, the style of preparation and the taste (well, almost) is the same. I love the somewhat tangy and sweet flavors that tamarind and jaggery add to this dish and complement the slightly bitter, nutty taste of banana stem and sesame seeds. Overall, a delicious recipe, bursting with nutrition!
Banana stem has a number beneficial properties and helps cure various disorders such as blood pressure regulation, anemia, blood sugar and many more. Its high fiber content cleanses the digestive system.
Check out our other delicious and nutritious raw banana/plantain recipes:
- Raw Plantain Yogurt Curry
- Crispy, Delicious Banana Nuggets
- Banana Flower Curry
- Raw Banana-Potato Sauté
- Crunchy Baked Plantain Chips
Don’t forget to check out some of our delicious dry curry recipes:
- Carrot, Green Bean, Coconut Sauté
- Cabbage & Green Beans Poriyal
- Cluster Beans-Coconut-Ginger Sauté
- Broad Bean Eggplant Sauté
- Snake Gourd Coconut Sauté
- Fresh Fenugreek Eggplant Sauté
- Spicy Cilantro Ginger Eggplant Sauté
- Beets (Root & Greens) Palya
- Yard-to-Table Beet Leaf Thoran
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Banana Stem Curry
Ingredients
- 4 Cups Banana Stem - ( 3/4th Pound)
- 1/2 Cup Sesame Seeds
- 1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Jaggery
- 1 Teaspoon Tamarind - (Paste or juice extracted from soaked tamarind)
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt - or to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
Seasoning Ingredients
- 1 Pepper Dry Red Chili - Large (break into 2 or 3 pieces)
- 1 Teaspoon Chana Dal
- 1 Teaspoon Urad Dal
- 1 Pepper Green Chili Pepper - Large (cut to 2 or 3 pieces)
- 1 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
- 8 Leaves Curry Leaves
- 1 Teaspoon Mustard Seeds
Instructions
- Peel the outer layers of stem to get a cylindrical piece. Slice the stem into round pieces and then cut them up fine.
- Cook fine cut banana stem for about 5 to 7 minutes with salt, tamarind paste/juice, turmeric and jaggery. Drain the water out.
- In a separate pan, dry roast sesame seeds until slightly brown. Set aside to cool.
- Blend the roasted sesame seeds to a coarse powder.
- Heat oil in a pan. Sauté seasoning ingredients (curry leaves, dry red chili pepper, chana dal, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and urad dal) for 1 minute.
- Add the boiled banana stem and green chili peppers, saute for a few minutes then add the roasted sesame powder. Add salt to taste and stir to mix well.
- Cook for 5 minutes and transfer to serving bowl.
I prepared and served to family members everyone liked it. It’s yum. Thanks.
So glad you made this dish and it was a hit with your family! Do try out our other banana recipes.
Great recipe easy to follow instructions tastes great family loved it they want me to make it again thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe
Craig – Glad you and your family loved this recipe. I hope you try several of our other healthy and great-tasting recipes as well. Thanks for taking the trouble to comment.
Can i add black sesame powder instead of white for this recipe
Hi Supriya, the taste difference between black and while sesame powder is not significant; it is mostly a visual/aesthetic difference. Try black sesame and let us know how it goes. Thanks for commenting. Do visit us again.
When and how much Salt do you add?
Hi Srikrishna, salt is added at step #6: “Add the boiled banana stem and green chili peppers, sauté for a few minutes then add the roasted sesame powder. Add salt to taste and stir to mix well.”
I just bought banana stem today. Can’t wait to try this recipe. It’s simple and so doable. Thank you for sharing.
Yay! Please do let us know how it turned out. You are welcome.