Description
This Banana Blossom Vegan Fish is a crispy and flavorful plant-based alternative to traditional fried fish, using banana blossoms marinated and fried in a seasoned batter to achieve a golden and crunchy texture. Perfectly paired with classic sides like tartar sauce, fries, and mashed peas, this recipe offers a delightful vegan twist on a beloved seafood favorite.
Ingredients
Banana Blossoms
- 1 can banana blossoms in brine (20 oz)
- frying oil (enough for deep frying)
Flour Mixture
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dill
- 1 ½ tablespoons crushed nori
Batter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch turmeric
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1 tablespoon caper brine (or substitute with more pickle juice)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ½ cup sparkling water
Instructions
- Prepare Banana Blossoms: Rinse and drain the banana blossoms thoroughly to remove the brine flavor and excess liquid, ensuring they are ready for coating.
- Mix Flour Mixture: In a bowl, combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dill, and 1 ½ tablespoons crushed nori. Stir well to integrate all dry ingredients.
- Prepare Batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup flour, ½ teaspoon salt, a pinch of turmeric, 1 tablespoon pickle juice, 1 tablespoon caper brine (or additional pickle juice), 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and ½ cup sparkling water until smooth and free of lumps.
- Heat Oil: Pour frying oil into a pot or wok, ensuring there is enough oil for deep frying. Heat the oil to around 350°F (175°C), making sure the pot is not overfilled to prevent spilling during frying.
- Coat and Dip: Take each banana blossom piece and first coat it evenly with the flour mixture. Then, dip it into the prepared batter to fully cover.
- Fry Banana Blossoms: Carefully lower the battered banana blossoms into the hot oil. Fry for about 4-5 minutes, turning once during cooking, until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.
- Drain Excess Oil: Remove the fried banana blossoms using a slotted spoon and place them onto kitchen paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
- Serve: Serve the vegan fish with tartar sauce, fries, and mashed peas. Garnish with fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon juice to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- The final number of vegan fish pieces depends on the size and quantity of banana blossoms in your can. Typically yields about 6-8 pieces using large and smaller parts.
- Adding dill and lemon juice as toppings significantly enhances the fish-like flavor.
- Frying oil can be reused by letting it cool, straining to remove crumbs, and storing in a bottle at room temperature for up to 3 uses.
- For a gluten-free batter, substitute all-purpose flour with rice flour or chickpea flour.
- You can bake or air-fry the banana blossom fish as an alternative to deep frying. However, the batter should be thicker to adhere better during cooking.
