Differences between Bananas and Plantains
There are differences between the banana and the plantain. In Mexico, you see more of the Plantain in the grocery stores, mainly because it is for cooking their favorite recipes. Most restaurants used the cooked Plantain as a side dish to a meal.
Looking at the two, you would think they would taste the same and used in similar ways in a receipts.
Plantains
A plantain are treated as a vegetable. Some think of it as a potatoe especially in the Caribbean. They are also used in many Indian and Caribbean dishes as part of the main dish itself.
It’s the rich starchy content and low sugar the plantain has that makes it a rich source of carbohydrates. When they are unripened, they usually have a bland taste. They do become a little sweet as they ripen but stay rather firm, even when cooked. This is partly due to the low moisture content compared to bananas. It’s not fruit you would want to eat when raw, even if they are already ripe, because their high starch content and firm texture can make them rather unpalatable. Boiling, steaming or frying are ways to cook the plantain.
Bananas
Bananas are consumed raw and ripen most of the time. They are usually much smaller than plantains with a much thinner skin. Bananas are usually part of a dessert, and are commonly in salads, pies and cakes. They are part of ingredients to create beverages, particularly in tropical countries. They are made into banana chips, which is a great and healthy snack.
Bananas are a great source of potassium to build up muscle mass. Since the potassium found in bananas helps to repair muscle tissues and minimize them from feeling sore after a workout. On top of this, bananas also contain anti-oxidants to help flush out harmful toxins and free radicals from the body.
While there are a lot of differences between plantains and bananas both are highly nutritious. Plantains and bananas are high in dietary fiber, and rich in Vitamin A and C. They should be a part of your diet.
So grab a banana for a quick snack and frying up a few plantain as a side dish to your meals.
60plusandfearless,
Dianne
The post Differences between Bananas and Plantains appeared first on Travels of age 60 plus.
