Banana-Coconut Packets

Name: Banana-Coconut Packets
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: makes 12 PACKETS
Ingredients: 12 fresh or frozen banana leaves; 2 1 ⁄ 4 cups coconut cream; 3 ⁄ 4 cup sugar; Kosher salt, to taste; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups short-grain sticky rice, soaked for 6 hours, drained, and rinsed; 3 firm-ripe bananas, quartered lengthwise

Serves
makes 12 PACKETS

TODD COLEMAN

Coconut cream, sticky rice, and bananas are tucked inside banana leaves and steamed together for a pudding-like dessert. The recipe for this dish comes from Asian Dumplings by Andrea Nguyen (Ten Speed Press, 2009).

Ingredients

12 fresh or frozen banana leaves
2 ¹⁄₄ cups coconut cream
³⁄₄ cup sugar
Kosher salt, to taste
1 ¹⁄₂ cups short-grain sticky rice, soaked for 6 hours, drained, and rinsed
3 firm-ripe bananas, quartered lengthwise

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Instructions

Step 1

Cut each leaf into a roughly 12"x 14" rectangle, then cut scraps into 12 thin ribbons for tying; set aside. Combine coconut cream, sugar, 1⁄4 cup water, and salt in a 12" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until it begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat; let rice absorb liquid, about 20 minutes. Divide rice into 12 equal portions.

Step 2

Working with 1 banana leaf at a time, arrange leaf with a short edge parallel to you, smooth side up. Put a portion of rice in center; top with a banana quarter; press gently. Shape rice into a rectangle. Fold leaf ends over rice to make a packet. Tie with a ribbon. Repeat to make 12 packets in all.

Step 3

Pour water into a wide-bottomed pot to a depth of 1". Set a colander inside pot. Working in 2 batches, steam packets until firm, about 15 minutes.

Cut each leaf into a roughly 12"x 14" rectangle, then cut scraps into 12 thin ribbons for tying; set aside. Combine coconut cream, sugar, 1⁄4 cup water, and salt in a 12" nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until it begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Add rice; cook, stirring often, until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat; let rice absorb liquid, about 20 minutes. Divide rice into 12 equal portions.
Working with 1 banana leaf at a time, arrange leaf with a short edge parallel to you, smooth side up. Put a portion of rice in center; top with a banana quarter; press gently. Shape rice into a rectangle. Fold leaf ends over rice to make a packet. Tie with a ribbon. Repeat to make 12 packets in all.
Pour water into a wide-bottomed pot to a depth of 1". Set a colander inside pot. Working in 2 batches, steam packets until firm, about 15 minutes.