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A couple months ago I did a dish -- red snapper and vegetables, including sweet plantians wrapped in a banana leaf. Maria gave it raving reviews, but low and behold I did not write it down and haven't been able to duplicate it.

Cooking in banana leaves is a reminiscent of vintage French cooking, as in cooking en papillote (the use of parchment paper to seal the food with a little wine). In a short time, you will have a tasty and succulent meal with little or no dishes to wash up.


Cooking en papillote can be applied to a variety of foods that don't require a lot of heat to cook, such as corn, chicken breast and ripe fruits in desserts. The trick is to have a balance of solids and liquid. You don't want a soup. Seasoning is a must but take care not to overpower.

Banana leaves add a herbal flavor to food; they also keep food moist. You can seal leaves with twine or enclose in aluminum foil. The package is baked at 450F for about 20 minutes.



Halibut in Banana Leaf
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

2 tbsp. olive oil, divided use
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 sprig green onions, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 red chiles, seeded and sliced into 1-inch strips
1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. adobo powder
3 tbsp. apple cider or white wine
4 banana leaves, cut in 8 x 8 pieces and smoked
2 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced in 1/4-inch rounds
4 (4-oz.) halibut fillets

1. Preheat oven to 350F. For the salsa: In a medium saucepan heat 1 tbsp. of oil over medium heat. Add garlic, green onions, jalapeno and red chiles. Cook 3 minutes. Add cilantro, oregano, adobo and cider; cook 2 minutes more. Remove from fire.

2. Place banana leaves on flat surface with shiny side up. Brush remaining oil lightly on leaves. Place 6 slices of plantain in center of each leaf. Place a halibut fillet over plantains. Top with 1/4 of prepared salsa. Fold the sides of the leaves toward the center. Place packets in one layer, folded side down, in a glass baking dish. Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool a few minutes. Place packets, folded sides up, on individual plates. Serve halibut in the leaf.

Serves 4.

306 calories per serving