Banana Leaves

[Bandaloop]

I can never find banana leaves to make tamales or pasteles. I usually wind up making them with corn husks. I have made an order for them online in the past but they always show up half rotted away. Does anybody know where to get these that are good quality?

 

[DrPepper]

I don't know where to find banana leaves but would love to have a recipe for homemade tamales. The the supermarket ones stink. Care to share your recipe?

 

[ainjel]

I've never gone looking for banana leaves. I have heard you can buy them fresh or frozen at Asian grocery stores. In my area we have lots of ethnic grocery stores - Asian, Hispanic, African, etc. I don't make tamales so I don't really know, but is making them with banana leaves typical or traditional? If so I would think that you could buy them at a Hispanic grocery store. If they don't sell them, they may have a good suggestion on where to buy them locally.

 

[DrPepper]

I always thought that Tamales were made with corn husks, and then filled with some corn meal before adding the meat mix.

 

[khartman]

As for me, I've only had Old El Paso tamales and somehow think they are no where near a real tamale. Come on Bandaloop and give us your secret recipe for real tamales. We could use a nice change of pace in our meals here at our house.

 

[aeiou]

What is a Tamale?

Ok call me nieve I have never had a Tamale. Can someone describe in detail what a Tamale is and how you make them. I like Mexican dishes such as Tacos and Burritos but have never had a Tamale.

 

[Bandaloop]

Some areas make the tamales with corn husks, but others use banana leaves. Personally, I think the banana leaves make all the difference. I'll try to get together a tamale recipe and post it. Pasteles I consider even better, but there is A LOT of prep work involved in them.

 

[oldbay]

I have a friend that makes delicious Vietnamese spring rolls. We made them once and it took about 8 hours to prep and cook them. But they were good. We haven't made them since though. Just thinking about tamales makes me think it's about the same level of effort.

Our Vietnamese friend would make several hundred spring rolls at a time, and freeze them so that she could eat them regularly. Sort of using the Henry Ford assembly line idea to make things efficient. Is that what you do with the Tamales?

 

[alice.b.toklas]

This intrigues me, so I'm on a quest to see if I can find banana leaves, and a good tamale recipe.

 

[tinker]

Speaking of banana leaves, I read somewhere that Dennis Rodman was once given some dish wrapped with banana leaves at some dinner/press conference. The problem is, nobody told him that the leaves are actually NOT edible--so he ate the whole thing, banana leaves and all. Poor thing. He was reportedly mad as hell.

 

[tinker]

Whenever a recipe calls for banana leaves, I just usually substitute collard leaves or aluminum foil. But I do see them being sold at Asian/specialty shops in my area.

I haven't had Tamales either. But I remember seeing some that were wrapped in corn husks instead of banana leaves.

 

[oldbay]

... nobody told him that the leaves are actually NOT edible--so he ate the whole thing, banana leaves and all. Poor thing. He was reportedly mad as hell. ...

Uh Oh. I'd bet Dennis was probably more then just mad

 

[aeiou]

Tinker is right you can probably find them in a good local Asian store. If you have a local Mexican store you probably will find them there as well. Both places should have fresh leaves not just frozen ones. They are also used in Thai fish dishes as well.

Yes, the banana leaves should not be eaten, they are only for wrapping foods and decoration.

 

[tinker]

Yes, the banana leaves should not be eaten, they are only for wrapping foods and decoration.

And even if you tried, they are difficult to chew. They're bitter and they taste like grass. (Oh wait, how in the world did I know that?! )

 

[khartman]

I've been looking for banana leaves for a few days in local latin, asain markets and haven't found any.