How about a green fig (banana) salad? Ah! green fig, truly a Caribbean staple. We just can’t do without green bananas in our cooking. We use it in soups with other provision, in drinks, in pies and now today we have it in a salad. I have to mention again that when we refer to fig in the Caribbean we are really talking about bananas and not the other type of fig that is commonly known. Green figs are totally nutritious containing vitamins such as vitamin C, B6 and Potassium.

Types of Bananas In the Caribbean

In Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean we grow many types like Gros Michel, Lacatan, Silk fig, Short fig or cooking fig (the tree is short hence the name) , Mataboro, Giant Governor, Moko (two types red and green but not to be confused with Moko Plantain), Chiquito or Sikiyea (a small type), and I.C.2 or Mysore which is a little sour to the taste.; it looks similar to the Silk fig. In my yard alone I have probably about 20 trees growing of all types, so I’m never without this wonder of a fruit and I always have lots of fig leaf for my pastelles also. When it’s green it is starchy, that is why we class it with provision like dasheen, yam, cassava etc. and usually eat them together.

green fig (banana) salad — Green Fig Salad

Some Terms Used

In Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean there are a few terms we use when describing bananas, that you might find interesting, if not educating at the same time. When it is on the tree it is called a “bunch” of green bananas. The bananas when separated from the bunch we call it a “hand” of green banana, separated from the hand the individual ones are called a “grain” and when the bananas are over ripe and is beginning to get a lot of brown spots we call it “tacte” so you could hear a person say ” Doh eat dat fig; it tacte (pronounced tactay)” meaning that the bananas are over ripe and close to spoiling. Now you know that when you go to the market in Trinidad and Tobago you would buy a hand of fig and not a bunch and…. you know not to buy fig that tacte :^)

Green Fig Salad

Green fig salad is a variation on the potato salad I posted some time ago. The green banana is substituted for the potato but the rest of the recipe is basically the same. Seeing that this substitution with the fig was so successful, and tasty I might add, probably the other provision could be used…. Hmmm! that has me thinking… a nice yam or eddoes salad sounds like a plan. Anyhow, I will have to experiment on that one first before I post it. Here is Green Fig or Green Banana Salad.

GREEN FIG SALAD

Ingredients:

1 “hand” of green bananas (about 12 bananas)
1 sweet pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped finely
1 sprig celery, chopped finely
1 can peas and carrots
2 pimento peppers
3 tbsp. mayonnaise
Mustard to taste
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste

Direction:

This is a hand of green banana. Wash and peel the figs. Note the technique for peeling.

Boil for approximately 10 minutes and drain. Cut up the green banana into ½” pieces.

Add the celery and sweet pepper Add the pimento and onion. Add salt, mustard and pepper to taste.

Add the peas and carrots and mix thoroughly. Served chilled

This salad is served as a side dish when we’re having lunch, so for your Christmas lunch you could try making this recipe instead of the usual potato salad. What do you think? Anyhow, while you’re thinking about that… See you soon. I gone!