Red Bananas

Quick Facts:

• Bananas are technically a berry
• The banana "tree" is actually a giant herb
• Red bananas are slightly sweeter than the traditional yellow banana and taste like a cross between a banana and a raspberry
• Good source of Vitamin C (15% DV)
• High in Potassium (approx. 400 mg/banana)
• Serving size: 1 banana
• Calories: approx. 90/banana
• How to eat it: Any way you would normally eat a banana (below are instructions to make a Dessert or Breakfast Banana Burrito YUM!)

I was walking down the aisles at Sprouts when I chanced to look down and find these babies. BAM!!! Instant banana love. I already had a special place in my heart for bananas--they are portable, sweet, and make delicious baked goods--but I had no idea there were so many options to feed my banana cravings. Did you know there are almost 1000 varieties of bananas!!! Well, I have now tasted three varieties, only 997 more to go. 

As mentioned above, red bananas are supposed to taste like a mix between a raspberry and a banana. Besides mine being slightly sweeter than a normal banana, I didn't really taste the raspberry, but they were still really good.

Selecting

Despite the name, when ripe, red bananas are actually going to be a dark purple. Try to find a group that are slightly soft and deep in color. Like our typical bananas, they will ripen on the counter, so it's better to buy them slightly unripe to avoid a terribly bruised banana. Unfortunately, because of the color of these bananas, it is difficult to tell if they are completely ripe--I learned this the hard way and got a mouth-full of crunchy potato-tasting banana. Depending on the ripeness when you purchase your bananas, let them sit on the counter for about 3-5 days or until they are quite soft to the touch. 

Storing

Store on the counter to let the bananas ripen and sweeten. As the red bananas ripen, they will leave little yellow spots on your counter. To avoid the clean up, place a thin sheet of newspaper underneath.

Preparing

You can't really go wrong when using bananas. Red bananas can be eaten raw--so good. Or in oatmeal--delicious. In your yogurt, or cereal, or on top of pancakes. I decided to create what I call the Banana Burrito.

I had some leftover tortillas from making shrimp tacos that needed to be used, which I was originally going to use for breakfast burritos (with the eggs and the veggies etc) but when I saw those red bananas on my counter I knew what I had to try. 

Starting with uncooked tortillas, I heated them on a warm skillet on the stove for about 30 seconds on each side, or until browned. Once cooked, I removed from heat and lightly spread on some butter and sprinkled some cinnamon sugar on the tortilla. I then placed the bananas inside with a little whipped cream, folded it all up and inhaled it before I could take a picture (above is take 2) it was THAT good.

Now this version is really more a dessert banana burrito, but that can easily be remedied. Follow the instructions above, only just use a sprinkle of cinnamon alone, and replace the whipped cream with vanilla yogurt. Breakfast is served!