Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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This Vegan Fish made with Banana Blossoms is life-changing – especially if you thought that you would never eat anything that tastes like fish again! The soft and flaky texture of the banana flowers is perfect as the base!

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

I’ve seen a couple of fishy recipes with banana blossoms on Pinterest and immediately knew that I wanted to give them a try. But I’ve never seen banana blossoms in the stores, so I thought it was one of the ingredients I would never get my hands on. You can probably guess how excited I was when I found a can of banana blossoms in brine at my local Asian grocery store. I almost freaked out.

For the preparation, I kind of followed the process of making tofish (fish made with tofu). The banana blossoms are tossed in a flour mixture, then dipped in a batter, and fried until golden brown. I’ve served them with Oven Baked Potato Slices and Tartar Sauce.

This is fishy dream come true! I’ve never had anything that tasted THAT MUCH like fish. The banana blossoms are the perfect base because they are soft and flaky.

Nori, lemon juice, and dillin the flour mixture and batter add the typical fishy flavors. I highly recommend making a tartar sauce to serve with this vegan fish. It’s so good!

What are Banana Blossoms?

Bananas on trees grow in clusters and at the end of the cluster, there’s a purple flower growing – this is known as the banana blossom (or banana blower or banana heart).

The petals are fleshy and soft and therefore PERFECT for vegan fish! For the recipe, we are using canned banana blossoms in brine.

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2)

Where to buy Banana Blossoms?

I’ve found these canned Banana Blossoms in an Asian grocery store, but not all of them carry them. Most owners are really nice and stock up on them when there’s a demand, so it’s worth asking for them!

Until now, I’ve found canned banana blossoms in brine from two brands: AROY-D and CHAOKOH. I’ve found that the banana blossoms from AROY-D are in better shape (bigger pieces) and therefore better for making vegan fish but if you can only find the CHAOKOH ones, that’s okay, they will work too!

You can also order banana blossoms on Amazon.

How to make Vegan Fish out of Banana Blossoms

You’ll need:

  • banana blossoms
  • for the flour mixture: flour, salt, nori, dill
  • for the batter: flour, salt, turmeric, pickle juice, caper brine (or more pickle juice), water, lemon juice
  • frying oil
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Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (5)
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Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (8)

See the different layers? Banana Blossoms are perfect to make vegan fish! But if you can’t find banana blossoms, this artichoke fish recipe is a good alternative.

Serve the banana blossom vegan fish with…

  • vegan tartar sauce
  • oven-baked potato slices

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish FAQ

What to do with all the leftover oil?

After frying, let the oil cool off completely. Then strain it (to remove small pieces) and pour it into a bottle to use it the next time. I usually use the oil 4-5 times if it’s not too dark.

Can I make the batter gluten-free?

You can use rice flour or chickpea flour instead to make it gluten-free.

Can you bake/air-fry the banana blossom fish instead of frying?

You can probably do that BUT you will have to make the batter thicker so that it sticks more to the banana blossoms. Bake it at 350°F/180°C for about 10 minutes.

Where can I buy banana blossoms?

You can find canned banana blossoms in (some) Asian markets. Sometimes even health food stores carry banana blossoms. The third option is to order it online.

Do you have any more questions? Put them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer them all!

More Vegan Fish Recipes

  • Artichoke Fish
  • Tofish and Chips
  • Vegan Fish Burger
  • 15+ Vegan Fish and Seafood Recipes

Love it? Rate it!

I hope you will enjoy this vegan ‘fish’ made out of banana blossoms as much as I did! Let me know if you give it a try!

And don’t forget to rate the recipe if you like it, this helps other users figure out if it’s worth a try!

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Cheers, Bianca

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (9)

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (10)

Banana Blossom Vegan Fish

Bianca Haun | Elephantastic Vegan

This Vegan Fish made with Banana Blossoms is life-changing – especially if you thought that you would never eat anything tastes like fish again! The soft and flaky texture of the banana flowers is perfect as the base!

4.37 from 222 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 8 fish*

Calories 160 kcal

Ingredients

Flour Mixture

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dill
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons crushed nori

Batter

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pinch turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon caper brine (or sub with more pickle juice)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup sparkling water

Instructions

  • Rinse and drain the banana blossoms.

  • In separate bowls, combine the ingredients for the flour mixture and whisk together the ingredients for the batter.

  • In a pot or wok, heat the frying oil. You’ll want enough so that the battered banana blossoms can swim in the oil but make sure you leave enough space in the pot/wok so that it doesn’t spill over.

  • Coat the banana blossoms in the flour mixture. Then dip them in the batter. Carefully lower them in the oil. Let them fry for about 4-5 minutes until golden brown, flipping them once.

  • Transfer the fried banana blossoms onto a kitchen paper to remove excess oil. Serve with tartar sauce, fries, and mashed peas, for example. Add fresh dill on top and squeeze with lemon juice.

Notes

*With how many vegan fish pieces you will end up, depends on how many banana blossoms are in the can. I’ve had 4 large ones, 2 smaller ones, and then used parts of the banana blossoms that fell off during the process to make 2 additional pieces.

Tips:

  • The vegan fish will taste a lot fishier if you add dill and lemon juice on top, and when it’s served with typical sides for fish e.g. tartar sauce, potatoes or mashed peas.
  • You can re-use the frying oil. Let it cool off completely, then pour it through a strainer to remove small bits and crumbs. Fill it in a bottle and store it at room temperature. You can use it for approx. 3 times!
  • Can I make the batter gluten-free? You can use rice flour or chickpea flour instead to make it gluten-free.
  • Can you bake/air-fry the banana blossom fish instead of frying? You can probably do that BUT you will have to make the batter thicker so that it sticks better to the banana blossoms.

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 3gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 325mgPotassium: 33mgVitamin A: 50IUVitamin C: 0.8mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 1.5mg

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Banana Blossom Vegan Fish Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is banana blossom the next vegan food star with the texture of fish? ›

Banana blossoms are an edible flower that grow at the end of a bunch of bananas. Their petals are layered, and many liken the tender, flaky texture to that of cooked fish. If you've ever cooked with young green jackfruit, the texture is a bit similar!

What does banana blossom fish taste like? ›

Banana blossom has “quite a neutral flavour, so it absorbs flavours really well. We've been soaking it in kombu and wrapping it in nori, to put that fishy flavour through it, and created a battered cod-esque fillet,” she said. As banana blossom is fibrous, it can stand a lot of seasoning.

What is vegan fish made of? ›

To create the flavour and texture of fish, manufacturers use a variety of different ingredients. Some common ingredients found in vegan fish are chickpeas, pea protein, soy, tofu and potatoes.

Is banana blossom healthy? ›

Banana flower is rich in nutrients, including fiber, antioxidants, and numerous minerals. Emerging research indicates that it may aid digestive health, prevent prostate enlargement, support bone health, and help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

What can I use instead of banana blossom? ›

If you can't find any Banana Blossom, I recommend using jackfruit or chickpeas. Sesame seed oil: this adds so much flavour to Asian cuisines, but you can use olive or coconut oil. Onion: the base for most recipes. Fresh garlic and ginger: for a good punch of flavour.

Does banana blossom taste like meat? ›

Unlike the sweet banana fruit, the flowers offer a mild to neutral taste, making them an ideal vegetarian alternative to fish, absorbing flavors from other ingredients in the recipe and mimicking the flaky texture of some fish.

Is banana blossom hard to digest? ›

Digestive Health: Banana flowers are rich in dietary fiber, promoting healthy digestion, preventing constipation, and supporting overall gut health.

Is banana blossom the same as jackfruit? ›

While young jackfruit serves as a delicious stand-in for pulled pork and shredded chicken, the Banana Blossom, which grows at the end of a banana bunch, possesses the texture of flaky fish and is a spot-on seafood substitute for cooking plant-based fish & chips.

Is banana blossom like jackfruit? ›

It's recently been acclaimed as the next best vegan meat substitute. Similar to Jackfruit, also originating from South East Asia, It has a neutral flavour with a chunky and flaky texture, perfect for creating vegan fish and chips.

What is a vegan who only eats fish? ›

Most simply, a pescatarian is someone who doesn't eat red meat or poultry, but does eat fish and other seafood. The term pescatarian was coined in the early 1990s and is a combination of the Italian word for fish, “pesce,” and the word “vegetarian.” Sometimes it's spelled “pescetarian,” but this means the same thing.

What is a vegan that eats fish called? ›

The benefits of being a pescatarian might get you hooked. Pescatarians have a lot in common with vegetarians. They eat fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, eggs, and dairy, and stay away from meat and poultry. But there's one way they part company from vegetarians: Pescatarians eat fish and other seafood.

Why is it OK for vegans to eat fish? ›

Vegans do not eat any animals or any food that is derived from animals. This means that vegans do not eat beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat. They also don't eat chicken, duck, and other poultry. And because fish are also living creatures, vegans don't eat fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.

Is banana blossom good for kidney? ›

Promotes Kidney Function

The myriad of nutrients presents in banana flower stimulates healthy functioning of the kidneys. Adding young banana flower in the diet works as a natural remedy for dissolving painful kidney stones and averts the risk of inflammation and urinary problems.

Does banana blossom need to be cooked? ›

The inner peach-pink core of the blossom is what's typically cooked. Since it's quick to oxidize and turn brown, raw banana blossom should be placed in cold water with a bit of salt or vinegar after chopping or shredding. (If you're using canned blossoms, they will come pre-cut or pre-shredded.).

What part of banana blossom can you eat? ›

Different parts of the banana flower (or bud) can be eaten: the innermost bracts, the florets (once the stamens and tough covers have been removed), and the inner core, or heart. The tougher outer bracts are often used as serving plates for dishes made with the other parts of the banana flower.

What is the food that looks like a fish? ›

Taiyaki (鯛焼き, lit. 'baked sea bream') is a Japanese fish-shaped cake, commonly sold as street food. It imitates the shape of tai (鯛, red sea bream), which it is named after.

What is the texture of banana blossom patty? ›

It is an edible flower. Its texture is meatlike, making it a meat substitute. A meat-like product from banana blossoms is processed to have pork texture so that consumer will enjoy their meal by texture.

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