Plant a Complete Diet - Carbohydrates: Green Bananas

In parts of the Caribbean, unripe bananas are also called ‘green bananas’ or ‘green figs’. Green bananas should be cooked. They are usually boiled to accompany recipes containing codfish and stewed liver. They may also be sliced thinly and fried as chips. This versatile fruit is sometimes used as a substitute for Irish potatoes in dishes like potato salads, shepherd’s pie and other savoury casseroles.

This starchy fruit contains a significant amount of complex, healthy carbohydrates. Being unripe, the carbohydrates have not yet converted to sugar. The complex carbohydrates contain fibre, which makes you feel fuller longer because of their slow absorption. These carbohydrates also resist rises in blood sugar and encourage the growth of healthy microbes in the digestive system. (Microbes help to prevent chronic diseases). Studies have shown that green bananas are useful in treating ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and diarrhea.

Origin

Some say Southeast Asia and others, West Africa.

Other Names

Green figs

Scientific Name

Musa

Age of Maturity

About a year

HOW BANANAS GROW

Planting

Remove a small sucker by the root from the base of a banana plant.

Find a location in full sun.

Dig a hole 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep.

Mix the soil with compost.

Plant the sucker.

Water until 1 inch in depth of soil is wet. Do not overwater.

Harvesting

The banana tree can take up to a year to grow. It will take up to six months for the flower to mature into fruit.

Unripe bananas are ready to harvest when they are full but still dark green.

Cut them from the bunch with a sharp knife, hand by hand, as needed.

How to prepare green bananas before cooking

Separate the bananas from each other.

Cut off the ends of the bananas.

Peel your green bananas by scoring them lengthways and using your fingers to pry the peel from the fruit. Be careful because liquid will ooze from the banana and stain your fingers.

Watch this video to see how to peel your green bananas without staining your hands. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euyi1tJSMcY

Have you ever tried green banana porridge?

If not, maybe it is time you do. Go to page 4 in the Grown at Home magazine found in our December 2021 issue or in the link below There you will find this delicious, nutritious recipe.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

According to Healthline, green bananas are higher in starches than ripe bananas. Unripe bananas contain mostly starch, which makes up 70–80% of their dry weight. Much of that starch is resistant starch, which is not digested in the small intestine. For that reason, it is often classified as fibre. As bananas ripen and turn yellow, they lose their starch as the starches transform into sugars. Interestingly, ripe bananas contain only 1% starch.

THE BANANA QUIZ

In what category are banana plants classified?

a) trees

b) shrubs

c) herbs?

Answer c