Banana Blossom Spicy Salad (Yam Hua Plee)

Last week, I talked about banana. Most of it's parts can be used - including banana blossom. Banana Blossom or Hua Plee is Thai herb that can heal "Peptic Ulcer".

" Yam Hua Plee " is one of easy recipe that my grandmother always cook for me...

Banana Blossom - Thai name is " Hua Plee " - Also called banana flowers and banana blossoms, these are in fact the tender hearts of unopened banana flowers, which have been stripped of their purple petals. They are available fresh in some Asian markets and also canned or dried. Fresh banana buds discolour rapidly once they are sliced or shredded, so should be brushed with lemon juice to prevent this. Banana buds are used in northern Thailand to make a tasty, squash soup. They are also a popular salad ingredient, tasting rather like artichokes.

Ingredients :
- Banana blossom 1 each
- Pork, thin sliced and steamed 100 grams
- Peanuts, coarsely ground roasted 1/4 cup
- Coconut, grated and roasted 1/2 cup
- Garlic, sliced and fried 3 tablespoons
- Shallots, sliced and fried 2 tablespoons
- Fresh red chili pepper, finely shredded 1 each

Dressing Ingredients :
- Dried chilies, roasted and ground 2 each
- Garlic, roasted and ground 1 tablespoon
- Shallots, roasted and ground 2 tablespoons
- Palm sugar, 3 tablespoons
- Fish sauce, 3-4 tablespoons
- Tamarind juice, 1 cup

Dressing directions:
Mix all the ingredients together. Bring to boil on a medium heat, stir constantly until the texture is richer, and remove from the heat.

Directions:
1. Remove the hard parts of banana blossom, cut it into two pieces, rub in lemon juice, cut a spine out , slice and soak its flesh in lemon juice before cooking.
2. Place the sliced banana blossom and pork in a mixing bowl. Add dressing and stir lightly. Add roasted grated coconut, coarsely ground roasted peanuts, fried sliced shallots, and fried sliced garlic.
3. Spoon the salad onto a plate, top with fried sliced shallots and red chili peppers. Serve with cha-plu leaves and other garnish (as pleasure).

Correct Characteristics of Yam Hua Plee:
- Banana blossoms used for cooking this dish must be crisp and not dark in color.
- Yam Dip must be well mixed with banana blossom flesh.
- This dish must not be watery but taste mild.

Cooking Tips:
- Only fresh banana blossoms should be used, finely sliced, soaked in water mixed with lime juice, and placed in a strainer until water leftover is removed before being brought for cooking.
- Ingredients in Yam Dip must be finely ground. The dip must be cooked until rich.
- Fruits can be used in place of banana blossoms.

Eating Culture:
- Yam is one of major dishes in the main meal which fulfills nutritional value and promotes the taste of other dishes in the main course.
- It can be served either as the first course or with the main meal.

How to Serve:
Spoon the salad onto a plate, top with fried sliced shallots and red chili peppers. Serve with cha-plu leaves and other garnish (as pleasure). Serve either as the first course or with the main meal for eating with rice.

Ref : http://agriculturethai.wordpress.com, and http://www.horapa.com