First of all, it is important to know that there is not just one kind of banana. More than 1,000 varieties of this fruit are produced worldwide. For example, there is the pink banana, which has a red/pink skin and comes growing in Africa, the West Indies and South America. Or the Fig Apple, from the West Indies, which has a rather round shape and is very sweet.
As you can see, there are more kinds of bananas than we might think!
In Ecuador, the two most common varieties are Musa Paradisiaca, better known as the Plantain banana, and Cavendish.
Indeed, this variety of banana is the most common on the stalls of our supermarkets. It is the one we enjoy as a dessert in all possible forms!
The Plantain banana is a cooking banana that is usually eaten boiled or fried. Indeed, it is rather considered as a vegetable because of its unsweetened taste.
Last but not least, here are some typical Ecuadorian dishes. Something to make your mouth water for sure!
Platana en Buñuelo: it’s actually a plantain banana doughnut. It is a must for street food in Quito city, the capital of Ecuador.
Chifle: green plantain banana chips for the greatest pleasure of our palate. And for a change from classic potato chips.To obtain these chips, simply cut the banana with a mandolin and fry them in oil.
Patacones: Again, those are chips. However, in this recipe, they are crushed -so they are thicker- and then they are fried. Thus, a soft texture on the inside and a crunchy texture on the outside is obtained. Try it out!
Bolón de verde: this is a plantain banana fritter filled with cheese or well-cooked pork meat … a real delight that we invite you to discover!
