what is a plantain used in cooking is it a banana?

Answer 1

A plantain is not a banana, but it is from the banana family. You can eat it in various stages of ripeness but it always needs to be cooked unlike a banana which is eaten raw or cooked.

Answer 2

Plantains are bananas (cousin) that are generally used for cooking, as contrasted with the soft, sweet banana varieties (which are sometimes called dessert bananas). Plantains tend to be firmer and lower in sugar content than dessert bananas and are commonly used when green or under ripe and therefore starchy.
Plantains can be used for cooking at any stage of ripeness, and very ripe plantain can be eaten raw. As the plantain ripens, it becomes sweeter and its color changes from green to yellow to black, just like its cousin the banana.
Plantain fruit can be brewed into an alcoholic drink.
Plantain is commonly used in herbal remedies to treat a variety of health conditions. Depending on the techniques used by a traditional practitioner of alternative medicine, plantain is used topically as a cream or infused oil to relieve insect bites and rashes, or consumed internally as a tea or herbal extract to aid with mucous discharge.

Hope this helps. Pretty versatile huh?

Answer 3

I was brought up in Africa and we had plantain. The were bigger than a banana and with a slightly different taste.
It's no good in the country but the natives would wrap them in palm leaves and put them on the fire.

Answer 4

Caribbean and Latin American countries eat it a bunch of ways since it a great source of carbs to give people energy. One way is to let it ripen until it is brown with black spots, peel it, slice it and fry them (using a little butter so it does not stick). Another is to let it ripen, peel and either steam or bake with a Cinnamon stick, cloves, and a little brown sugar.

When is is green it is used in soups, to make pasteles (not referring to cake as they do in Mexico, this is a Puertorican Dish) and tostones as an appetizer. Tostones are green plantains peeled, sliced about one inch, fried in vegetable oil, then taken out flattened, then fried again, and then finally seasoned with salt.

Also there is a another dish called Mangoo that Dominican love to eat and you basically get a few green plantains, peel them, boil them and then mash them with butter and a little bit of milk like you with mashed potatoes. You could do the same with a more ripened one (brownish still firm), and add freshly ground pepper while you are mashing. The end result is a sweet peppery side dish that goes great with black beans, moro and red wine.

Answer 5

plantain for cooking looks like bannana but green it is treated much the same as a potato , there is also a plantain that grows in uk wich is used to treat cuts ,burns,bruises

Answer 6

Plantain is a 'cousin' of the banana - evidently...

Answer 7

Plantains are hard, starchy bananas used in cooking...

Answer 8

Plantain is like a banana except its savoury and you have to cook it or you get a bad belly. You cut it into medium thickness diagonally sliced and fry it in a little oil. I love it, its yummy with a little Ackee and Saltfish..

Answer 9

right it truly is a fried plantains recipe courtesy of Alton Brown: 2 cups water 3 cloves garlic, smashed 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus better for seasoning a million a million/2 cups vegetable or canola oil 2 eco-friendly plantains combine water, garlic and salt in medium length glass bowl and positioned aside. In a large (12-inch) saute pan, warmth oil to 325 stages F. Peel plantains and slice crosswise into a million-inch products. heavily upload plantains to grease and fry until eventually golden yellow in coloration, about a million to at least a million a million/2 minutes in protecting with area. (The oil might want to come midway up the area of the plantain). With a spider or slotted spoon, eliminate the plantains from the pan and position them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, status them on their ends. With the decrease back of a massive, timber spatula, press each and every little bit of plantain all the way down to 0.5 its unique length. Then position the plantains in the water and enable soak for a million minute. eliminate and pat dry with a tea towel to eliminate extra water. deliver oil decrease back as a lot as 325 stages F and go back plantains to pan and cook dinner until eventually golden brown, about 2 to 4 minutes in protecting with area. eliminate to a dish lined with paper towels, and sprinkle with salt, if wanted. Serve immediately.

Answer 10

Plantain is a overgrown banana. It is fried usually and served as a desert, often used by Caribbean people