How to clean Banana Flower? | How to clean Banana Blossom?

How to clean banana flower with step-by-step photos and instructions.

Banana Blossom is also known as ‘banana flower‘ or ‘banana heart‘. It is a purple-maroon skinned flower, shaped like a drop or tear. It grows at the end of a banana fruit bunch. If left on the plant it would blossom into bananas. Hence, the name ‘banana blossom‘.

Banana blossom is known as ‘Bond‘ in Konkani, ‘Kelful‘ in Marathi, ‘Vazhaipoo‘ in Tamil and Malayalam, ‘Mocha‘ in Bengali, and ‘Kele ka phool‘ in Hindi. It is mostly used in Indian and South-East Asian cuisines. It provides a lot of vitamins, minerals and many health benefits also. Thus, the banana flower is one of the lesser-known superfoods!

However, sadly it is forgotten and rarely included in the diet. The reason, primarily, is the time-consuming and tedious process of cleaning it. Cleaning a banana flower may look cumbersome but it is not. Nevertheless, it is a work of patience. Although it takes time, it is worth it, given its various health benefits.

Also, do check out my Banana Blossom Stir Fry (Dry Sabzi) recipe below.

Kelfulachi Bhaji

Parts of a Banana Blossom

Let us briefly understand the parts of a banana flower. The purple petals are called ‘bracts‘. These are inedible and are discarded. But you can use them as serving plates (since they are bio-degradable). As you remove one bract after another you will get a bunch of cream-yellow coloured ‘flowers‘ or florets. It is these florets that need to be cleaned.

The two parts of the flower that need to be cleaned are the calyx (also known as the perianth) and the pistil (stamen). They are colloquially referred to as Dai and Davlo respectively in Konkani. (Note:- In Konkani, Dai is a spatula that is exclusively used to serve rice whereas a Davlo is used to serve any gravy or curry. See the pic below.)

The calyx and pistil resemble the dai and davlo and hence the reference.

The calyx (Dai) are plastic-like flaps that are translucent (semi-transparent). The pistil (Davlo) is a long stick with a bulb-like top. Both these parts of the flower need to be discarded since they are difficult to digest. Also, they make the dish bitter in taste.

While you keep opening the bracts you will reach the inner white part or core of the banana blossom known as the ‘banana heart’. This core is edible and is used along with the cleaned flowers.

The banana flowers and core get oxidized and turn black when exposed to air. This is because of the presence of thin film of a sticky substance. This will lead to your hands and nails turning black. Thus, to avoid this, use coconut oil (or any other oil) on your hands and chopping board before handling it.

Benefits of Banana Blossom

Benefits of a banana blossom are countless. No wonder it is a superfood!

Just listing a few of them below…

1. Boosts immunity and keeps infections at bay. Since the ethanol present in it prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
2. Keeps diabetes in check as it assists glucose uptake which reduces blood sugar levels.
3. Since it is alkaline in nature it prevents acidity and indigestion.
4. Magnesium present in it decreases anxiety and uplifts mood. Hence it serves as a natural anti-depressant.
5. Enhances lactation in nursing mothers.
6. Are you anemic? Time to include a banana flower in your diet. Being a rich source of iron it is good for iron-deficiency aneamia.
7. Also helps in smooth functioning of the kidneys.
8. Its high fiber content makes it a natural laxative and thus it prevents constipation.
9. Reduces menstrual pain and bleeding.
10. Rich in anti-oxidants that combat with free-radicals. This slows down the ageing process.

How to clean banana flower? (Step-by-step)

1. Firstly, apply coconut oil (or any other oil) to your hands. Secondly, rub it well in between the fingers, nails and back of the hand. This will prevent your hands from getting stained. You can also apply some oil to the chopping board.

2. Open the banana flower by removing the purple petal (bract). You will find a cluster of flowers. Remove the flowers and collect them in a plate. Repeat the process by removing the next bract.

3. Keep collecting the flowers till you reach the core and you can no longer open the bracts. This is the ‘cone‘ or ‘banana heart‘ of the banana flower. The flowers close to the cone will be tender and unopened. Keep them separately and chop them as it is. Also, break off the long stick of the cone and discard it.

Cleaning the flowers (Separating the Dai and Davlo)

4. Now let’s clean the flowers. Brush the flower on the palm. This will open the flower and it will be easier to locate the pistil (davlo). The pistil is a long, slightly hard stick that has a bulb at the top. It is sticky to touch.

5. Gently pull the pistil, pluck it from the flower and discard it. While pulling the pistil the calyx (dai) will automatically separate and stand out. Remove and discard it too.

Check out the video below for cleaning the banana florets.

6. Repeat the process for all the flowers. Discard the pistils and calyx. (Dai & Davlo)

7. Chop the flowers and immediately immerse them in water or buttermilk to prevent them from darkening.

8. Cut the cone into half lengthwise and chop it too. Immerse the chopped cone in the water too along with the flowers.

9. Soak the chopped banana flower in water or buttermilk for 7-8 hours or overnight. Finally, strain the water completely. The chopped banana flower is ready to use. Also, discard the strained water or buttermilk. You can also soak the chopped blossom in buttermilk. Buttermilk prevents discolouration.

So now you can clean the banana flower with ease. Do include it in your diet to get its innumerable benefits. Here’s an easy Banana Blossom Stir Fry recipe below. Do try it.

Banana Blossom Stir Fry