In Jamaica we use everything for food! Every part of an animal and every fruit and vegetable that grows on the island. Unlike ripe yellow bananas, boiled green bananas are not sweet. They’re starchy and eaten as a side dish similar to potatoes. I like to cook green bananas in the skin, mainly because the skins are difficult to remove otherwise. Look for green bananas at your supermarket or West Indian grocer.
We Jamaicans love our dumplings whether they’re fried or boiled. The recipe for boiled dumplings is so simple it’s scary. Some people like to add cornmeal to their dough for a stiffer dumpling, but I prefer this recipe. To save time (and pots), in the video I boil them with the bananas, but they can also be boiled on their own.
Boiled Green Bananas
1. Cut off both ends of each banana
2. Score the skin by cutting a straight from top to bottom.
3. Place the bananas in boiling salted water and cook for 15 minutes
4. Use a fork to remove (they will slip off), and discard skins
5. Add 1 tsp of lemon juice to the water (this will prevent the bananas from turning brown)
6. Boil the bananas for 20 more minutes or until tender
Boiled Dumplings
1 cup flour
1/3 cup cold water
1/2 tsp salt
1. Mix dry ingredients together
2. Add cold water and knead into dough
3. Divide dough in to 5 portions and shape
6. Boil in hot water for 20 minutes or until tender
Makes 5 medium dumplings
Video Lesson: Gold Members click below to watch us make this recipe step by step.
