Best Banana Fish Recipes

BANANA FISH

Steps:

• 1. Heat oven to 375 and season fish on both sides with salt, pepper, paprika and red pepper.
• 2. in a 9x13 baking pan line with aluminum foil and spray with Olive oil. Spread 1/2 of bread crumbs on the bottom of the dish and arrange fish on top of bread crumbs.
• 3. Slice banana to cover each fillet with a thin layer of banana. use remaining breadcrumbs to cover bananas. sprinkle nuts on top of that, spray a little more olive oil on top so the breadcrumbs brown slightly. Bake in oven until thickest part of fish is opaque, about 20 minutes.
• 4. Serve with salsa on the top or the side. I usually serve a nice green salad or green beans on the side.
• 5. To Make salsa: finely dice 1c tomato, 1/2c red onion, 1/4c green pepper, 1/2c mango, 1/2 to 1 finely diced jalapeno, 1tsp calentio, 1/4c lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

LEMON GRILLED FISH IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium.
• In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice with ½ cup olive; add thyme, salt and pepper.
• Brush both sides of fillets generously with lemon mixture and place each in a banana leaf.
• Place 4 lemon slices and a sprig of thyme on each fillet.
• With the short side of the leaf facing you, fold bottom edge over fish; fold sides over fish, then fold package away from you to envelop the fish.
• Secure each packet with 3 wet toothpicks or tie like a girtbox with a wet piece of string.
• Cook the fish packets on grill, about 6 minutes per side ( the leaves will brown, which is OK).
• While the fish grills, sauté garlic in 1 Tbs olive oil over medium-high heat about 1 minute.
• Add the onions through tomatoes and sauté about 5 minutes until vegetables are tender; season with salt and pepper.
• To serve, put a fish packet in the center of each plate, open the leaf and spoon vegetables around fillet.

BOMBAY FISH STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Make sauce:
• Mince garlic and, wearing protective gloves, mince serranos. In a blender purée all sauce ingredients until smooth.
• If using banana leaves, cut away ribs and in a large bowl of hot water soften leaves 1 minute to help keep them from splitting. Cut six 8-inch squares from leaves. On a work surface arrange 1 leaf square and pat dry. Spread 1 teaspoon herb sauce down middle of square to equal length of a piece of fish and arrange piece, skin side down, on sauce. Spread 1 tablespoon sauce over piece. Fold top and bottom edges of leaf over piece and fold sides of leaf over piece, enclosing it. Arrange packet, seam sides down, in a bamboo steamer or on a large steamer rack. Make 5 more packets in same manner and arrange in steamer or on rack.
• Steam packets over boiling water, covered, until fish is just cooked through, about 8 minutes. Serve fish immediately.

GRILLED FISH WITH CILANTRO CHUTNEY IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Prepare grill.
• Make chutney:
• Finely chop ginger, garlic, chile, and coconut in a food processor. Add cilantro and mint and process until chopped. Add vinegar, sugar, and salt and blend chutney well.
• Prepare fish:
• Cut banana leaves into 6 sheets (12 by 10 inches each). Arrange in a stack with a short side nearest you.
• Season fillets on both sides with salt and pepper. Spread 1 slightly rounded tablespoon cilantro chutney on top of a fillet, then invert onto center of a banana leaf, arranging fillet crosswise. Spread another slightly rounded tablespoon of chutney on top of fish. Fold bottom edge of leaf over fish and fold in sides over fish, then fold package away from you, enclosing fish. Tie package (in both directions) with a 24-inch piece of kitchen string. Repeat with remaining fillets, chutney, and banana leaves.
• Grill fish, turning over once, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes (untie 1 package to check doneness). Cut string before serving and transfer packages to 6 plates. The banana leaves are inedible, but we think they make a nice presentation.

HALIBUT OR OTHER FISH STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Put at least 2 inches of water in the bottom of a steamer. Soak the banana leaves in hot water until soft, just a few seconds.
• Toss together the fish, garlic, ginger, nam pla, sugar, and cayenne. Put a piece of the seasoned fish in the center of each of the banana leaves and top with shallot, cilantro, and a light sprinkling of salt. Fold in the sides of the leaves and seal shut with toothpicks or skewers.
• Steam for about 15 minutes, or until the fish is done (peek into one of the packages to check). Be careful of the steaming liquid when removing the packages. Remove each of the fish pieces from its package before serving and spoon some of the juices over it.
• Lemongrass Halibut (or Other Fish) Steamed in Banana Leaves
• In step 2, toss the fish with 1 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, 2 tablespoons minced lemongrass, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, and the nam pla and sugar. Put it in the packages as directed and top with the shallots, 1/2 cup chopped fresh chives or scallion, and 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, preferably Thai basil. Seal and steam as directed.

FISH STEAMED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Add the chilli powder, turmeric, salt, sugar, mustard oil and green chillies to the fillets.
• Mix well to coat evenly.
• (Don't be afraid to use your hands.) Marinate fish for 20-30 mins.
• Now add the ground mustard and immediately wrap each fillet with a little extra marinade on top into individual pouches with the banana leaf.
• Steam for 20 mins in a steamer.
• Enjoy.

FISH TAMALES IN BANANA LEAVES WITH ACHIOTE BUTTER AND CORN-TOMATO SALSA

Steps:

• For the achiote butter: Mix everything in a food processor until well combined.
• For the corn salsa: Mix everything in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• For the tamales: Cut banana leaves into approximately 12-inch squares and wipe clean with damp towel. Place about 3 ounces of prepared tamale masa in the middle of the leaf and place a piece of fish on top of the masa. Coat the fish with achiote-chile butter then top with another spoonful of masa and spread over the fish to completely encase. Fold the edges of the banana leaf over the fish, making a packet. Tie with a string and steam for 10 minutes. Serve with Corn Salsa.

BAKED FISH WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Cut fish into large pieces, wash and pat dry. Salt and set aside.
• Mix the garlic, chillies, coriander leaves, coconut, lime or lemon juice, tamarind, sugar, cumin and salt into a paste and smear over fish. Let marinate 1 hour.
• Grease foil (if using) with ghee. Place a piece of fish on a banana leaf or foil piece and fold so fish is encased.
• Coat an oven-safe dish with ghee and place wrapped fish pieces into the dish. Cook for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.
• Unwrap one piece of fish to check if it's cooked through and cook until finished.

STEAMED FISH WITH SPICED RUB IN BANANA LEAF

Steps:

• Cut the fish into 6 pieces, about 3-inch rectangles, and season with salt and pepper. Thoroughly mix the coconut milk, sliced onion, turmeric, paprika, curry powder, ginger, garlic, chile, and fish sauce together. Add the fish pieces, mix well, and marinate for 15 minutes. Fold two sides to 1-inch height each, and fold the comers on the other ends to meet in the center. This will make a point at both ends. Fold these points down twice and secure with a toothpick, creating a small pocket. Place 4 ounces of vegetables into the pocket. Place the fish over it, finishing with a few slices of Thai chile on top. Steam the pockets for 7 minutes. Serve immediately and garnish with scallions.

FISH POLEKO (NEPALI SPICY FISH GRILLED IN BANANA LEAF)

Steps:

• In a blender combine all marinating ingredients into a smooth paste.
• Prepare a grill with glowing charcoal and wood chips.
• Trim and score the fish to form deep packets on all sides.
• Salt and pepper the fish first and smother with the marinating paste, inserting deep into the packets.
• Oil the banana leaf; gently heat up the banana leaf on the grill for a brief time, for it makes the banana leaf softer and workable.
• Immediately place the fish on the banana leaf and wrap in by ensuring a complete closure.
• Secure it with bamboo picks or a twain.
• Place the wrapped fish on grill and smoke-grill for 20-30 minutes, turning frequently.
• Once cooked, unwrap the banana leaf and put the fish on the bed of rice pilaf to serve, topped with tomato achar.
• Garnish with a fresh squeeze of lemon wedges.

YJ'S FISH AND BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Tear the banana leaves in half and place 4 ounces of tilapia in the center of each leaf. Lay vegetables and olives or raisins across the top of fish. Squeeze 1/4 lemon on each piece. Drizzle olive oil over top, season with salt and pepper, to taste and top with orange peels. Wrap ingredients in the leaves and bake for 15 to 18 minutes.

ARABIAN GULF-STYLE FISH IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium or a large grill pan over medium. Rinse fish under cold water; pat dry. Coat the interior and exterior of the fish with ghee. Season the fish all over with salt and pepper. Place the herb sprigs inside the cavity of the fish and sprinkle the exterior with the chopped herbs; set aside.
• Wipe any dirt or dust off of banana leaves with a damp cloth. Place leaves, overlapping one another, on a clean work surface with long ends parallel to edge of work surface. Leaves should overlap by about 3 inches. Position the fish vertically in the center of the leaves, folding one edge of the leaves over to cover the fish. Then roll to wrap the fish completely with leaves and tuck ends under.
• Place wrapped fish on grill and cook for 15 minutes. Carefully flip wrapped fish and cook until leaves are charred and fish is cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes more.
• To serve, unwrap the fish and transfer to a platter. Top with celery and herb salad; serve with lime wedges.

FISH WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAVES WITH CHILE RAJAS AND CREMA

Steps:

• Roast chiles on racks of gas burners over high heat, turning with tongs, until skins are blackened, 10 to 12 minutes. (Or broil chiles on a broiler pan about 5 inches from heat, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes.) Transfer to a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap, then let stand 20 minutes.
• When cool enough to handle, peel chiles, discarding stems and seeds (do not rinse under running water as this washes away flavor), and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick strips.
• Cook onions with salt in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until onions are tender but still have texture, about 10 minutes. Stir in chiles and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then season with salt.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Unfold banana leaves. Cut off (and reserve) tough center rib that runs along bottom edge of each leaf with kitchen shears. Cut ribs into 12- to 14-inch strips for tying packets. Gently cut leaves into 8 (12-inch) squares, being careful not to split them.
• Slowly run a banana-leaf square across flame of a gas burner, just enough to "melt" outer coating on leaf (it will become quite shiny; if you have an electric stove, hold leaf slightly above burner on moderately high). Place a piece of fish in center of square and season with salt, then top with 1/2 cup rajas and 2 tablespoons crema. Fold 2 sides of banana leaf over fish to enclose it, then fold in opposite sides to form a packet. Tie packet with a strip of banana-leaf rib and transfer to a large baking sheet. Assemble 7 more packets in same manner.
• Bake fish packets in middle of oven 20 minutes, then transfer each to a large plate or shallow soup bowl. Cut ties of packets and open them (leaves are not edible). Drizzle fish with additional crema.
• Available at Latino and Asian markets.

GRILLED FISH IN BANANA LEAF

Steps:

• 1. In a blender, blend up all ingredients except the fish, banana leaves and sliced condiments. Let marinade sit for 1 hour. Cut a few gashes in the fish skin and rub the spice paste into the fillets. Marinate for another hour. 2. Preheat grill on medium 3. Set banana leaves in water to soak for a couple of minutes in a large pan and cut each leaf in half. Criss cross half leaf, lay a fish fillet on top, lay condiments on top then wrap up into a parcel, securing with toothpicks if needed. Place the parcels on the grill and cook 10-12 minutes per side 3. Serve with rice, lime wedges and chopped chillis.

FISH FILLETS BAKED IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375°. Put the fish fillets on a plate. In a small bowl, make a paste of the garlic, lime juice, allspice, salt, pepper, and oil. Rub the mixture all over the fish. 2. Lay 1 12-inch-long piece of foil on a flat surface and lay 1 banana leaf on top of the foil. Put 2 fish fillets in the center of the banana leaf. Put half of the cilantro on the fish. Fold the banana leaf to enclose the fish in a package. Then fold the foil around both sides of the banana package to seal tightly so no steam escapes. Place folded side up on a baking sheet. Repeat with a second 12-inch square of foil, and the remaining banana leaf and fish. 3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, or until the fish is opaque but still moist inside and just barely flakes when tested with a fork. (Test one package for doneness.) To serve, open the packages and transfer 1 fish fillet to each of 4 serving plates. Spoon the juices over the fish. Serve hot.From "1,000 Mexican Recipes." Copyright 2001 by Marge Poore. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THAI FISH IN BANANA LEAF

Steps:

• Place all curry marinade/sauce ingredients in a food processor and blend well. Can be done ahead and kept in the fridge.
• Marinate the fish fillets in half the Marinade/Sauce for at least 15 min.
• Cut Banana leafs to size, place fish fillet into the centre of each parcels and wrap the sides around to obtain a package. Turn it seam-side down to keep sides from opening and place in glass casserole.
• Bake for 15 min at 200 degrees then check if the fish is cooked potentially leaving it in the oven a bit longer.
• To serve the fish, scoop several spoonfuls of coconut rice onto the side of the fish. Spoon some curry sauce (marinade) over the fish, then add a sprinkling of basil and/or coriander leaves. Goes well with stir fried Pak Choi.