Veggie of the month

Absolutely loving this veggie-fruit right now. Living in Scotland you would never find plantain in the average supermarket. Sold at Asian stores in and around Glasgow to which there are not very many, coming across them sends me into a state of euphoria,  as I proclaim, “OMG…they have plantain, dinner will be special tonight!” Not only do they add a special something to your dinner, they have so many other health advantages that the Scottish diet can benefit from.

Firstly, it is important to classify this tasty veggie-fruit.  I use the term ‘veggie-fruit ‘because it looks like a massive banana, but it cannot be eaten like a banana. Therefore, one seems to think that it is a vegetable, but in fact it is a starchy fruit belonging to the genus family called Musa Genus, which the average banana is also part of .

Plantain’s scientific name, is Musa Paradisiaca, I call it the paradise fruit, because it is very much a dietary staple found within the beautiful warmth of African, Caribbean and Indian countries. Yet other than its sweet tantalising taste, plantain’s starch-based element plays a large role in promoting good gut health.

Plantain as a starchy fruit is high in resistant starch, which is different from the starch found in many starchy based vegetables. Resistant starch falls under the classification of fibre, because it behaves like fibre and less like starch that is broken down in the small intestine to glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream, thus having an impact on blood glucose and insulin levels. Resistant starch plays an important role in the large intestine feeding good gut bacteria leading to improvements within the gut flora and overall gut health.

Not only that,  it is a good source of fibre meaning that it is a great starchy food to incorporate in to the diet,  as it works to regulate blood sugars and increase satiety. Therefore keeping you fuller for longer without creating insulin spikes, and great for the promotion of weight loss and weight maintenance.  It does not stop there; it is a good source of vitamin A, C and B6, low in fat, high in potassium and low in sodium. Overall an excellent fruit to be having as a staple, especially for the maintenance of good health.

My friends will often ask me “so what do you do with it? “ I reply “anything you want” Personally I like to season it with some olive oil, sriracha, mixed herbs, paprika and chilli powder then place them on a baking tray and roast them. They can be boiled and fried, whatever tickles your fancy.

So, the next time you see a large banana in your supermarket grab it and take it home, because it will be a special night!