Bored with the same way of eating bananas? How about grilling it over the coal? I promise you will enjoy this recipe.
Lao grilled bananas, Jee kuay or Ping kuay, ຈີ່ກ້ວຍ ຫຼື ປີ້ງກ້ວຍ.
Jee Kuay (Lao grilled bananas)
There are two names for this delicious snack, the first one is Jee Kuay, and the second one is Ping Kuay. Jee means grilled but in low heat and slowly grilled to make the inside of food well-cooked. Ping means grilled. These two words have a similar meaning. Kuay or mak kuay means banana. Kuay is a short version of mak kuay when saying it.
The perfect light brown color on the bananas that grill over the coal makes it crunchy on the outside and soft inside. The fragrance of grilled bananas from a coal makes it more attractive. It is an enjoyable snack and non-stop eating.
Another way to enjoy Jee kuay is to drizzle with coconut caramel sugar on the bananas. Bananas have been cut into small pieces about half inches long, then smash into pieces and glaze with syrup. The syrup aggrandizes the sweetness in bananas even more.
Where to buy Jee Kuay: alongside the street and before entering a local market.
How to pick the banana for grilling
The best bananas for grilling need to be half green, half yellow, or more yellow than green. Another way to know is the texture of bananas for grilling is more dense or firm to squeeze than the ripe or yellow banana we regularly eat. Choosing bananas this way helps the banana stay in shape while grilling, not mushy and extra sweet.
Ingredients
1 and a half hand of cultivated banana (20 - 22 bananas)
Equipment
Charcoal stove or charcoal grill
Cooking grate
Tong
Directions
How to light the coals
Arrange 3 coals (depending on the size of the coal) to be a circle that leaves the hole inside. See picture 1.
Mix the dry coconut husks with lighter fluid in the container and place one on the hole. The dry coconut husks need to be cut into pieces around 2-3 inches.
Pick one dry coconut husk from the container and use a lighter or match to light it, then places it on the hole with another coconut husk.
Once the coals are lit, quickly put more coals to the charcoal stove and arrange them into a pyramid shape. See picture 3
After the coals turn white-gray ash, place grates, and it is ready to grill.
Tips:
Keep adding the coals if you feel the light is dim and not hot enough for grilling.
I recommend putting a lot of coals into the charcoal stove then reducing it when grilling. Move the coals to another charcoal stove and use it later when the light is dim.
If you don’t have both a charcoal stove and a charcoal grill in your house, you can use an electric grill or an oven.
If you have your method of lighting the coals, go for it.
Picture 1 2 3
How to grill bananas on charcoal stove or charcoal grill
1. Adjust the coal to medium heat and place a grate on the charcoal stove
2. Peel off the cultivated banana skin and put the bananas in the bowl
4. Place bananas on the grill as much as possible.
5. Flip it when the bananas become dry or not moist as before.
6. After the bananas have a light brown color, flip it again to grill the other side.
7. When the bananas turn to a light brown color on both sides, they are ready to be
eaten.
Note:
If the banana does not turn brown yet, keep flipping it until it becomes light brown.
There is no actual time for grilling bananas because it depends on how high or low the heat is and where you place bananas.
Keep your eyes on while grilling bananas to prevent bananas from burning.
How to grill with oven
Preheat the oven to 200oc or 392°F
While preheating oven peels off the cultivated banana skin.
Place all the bananas on the rack
Put the rack on the oven and bake it around 55 minutes to 60 minutes (depending on the type of oven)
Keep checking the bananas. If the banana turns light brown, it is ready to be eaten.
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