Baking meats in banana leaves helps keep them tender and moist and gives your meal an aromatic flavor. The leaves create a package around the meat, allowing it to cook in a moist environment. Baking meats such as chicken or fish in banana leaves can reduce the amount of fat in your diet because you don't have to add large amounts of fat to the meat the way that you might when pan-frying or roasting it.
Buying Banana Leaves
Find banana leaves at some grocery stores and ethnic markets. Look in the produce section for fresh leaves or head to the frozen vegetable section for frozen leaves. Defrost the frozen banana leaves in the refrigerator overnight before using them in baking. Rinse and dry the leaves before using.
Softening Banana Leaves
If your banana leaves are tough and inflexible, heat them up prior to baking with them to soften them and keep them from breaking as they bend. Place the leaves in a steamer basket set over a pot full of simmering water, cover the pot and steam the leaves for 20 to 30 minutes until soft or toast the banana leaves on a warm grill for a few seconds until they're soft. Let the leaves cool and cover them with a damp towel to keep them soft until you're ready to use them.
Wrapping Meat in Banana Leaves
Cut a banana leaf down to a 12-inch by 12-inch square, removing the center spine. Spread the leaf on a foil-lined sheet pan. Place the meat of your choice on the leaf and top it with sauce or seasonings. Fold the sides of the leaf up over the meat, then fold the top and bottom of the leaf down to form a package around the meat. Hold the banana leaf closed with a toothpick or skewer or tie the package shut with kitchen twine.
Baking Meat in Banana Leaves
Place your banana-leaf packages on a foil-lined baking sheet so that the open seams face down. Put the sheet in the oven and cook the meat according to your recipe. Check the meat for doneness without opening the banana package by sticking a meat thermometer into the center of the package. When done, remove the package from the oven and let it sit for two minutes. Serve the meal in the banana leaves for a pretty presentation. Your guests will also enjoy opening the packages themselves.
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