Bananas Foster

Description:

Bananas foster is a New Orleans classic dessert that traces its roots back to the 1950’s when the city was a major port of entry for bananas from Central and South America. In an effort to promote the fruit, the owner of Brennan’s Restaurant, Owen Brennan, challenged its head chef to incorporate bananas into the restaurant’s dessert menu. The dish bears the namesake of Richard Foster, who was the New Orleans Crime Commission chairman and a friend of Owen Brennan. Thus, Bananas Foster was born.

Ingredients:

One banana, split in half crosswise and then lengthwise

• 2 tbsp rum (30 ml)

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter (28 g)

• 2 tbsp brown sugar (30 g)

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon (1.5 g)

• Pinch of salt

• Vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Then add the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt, and cook for 1-2 minutes until it starts to bubble. Add the bananas cut-side-down, and cook for 1 minute. Flip the bananas, remove the pan from the stove, and add the rum. Step back and flambé the rum with a lighter. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. Place a scoop of ice cream in a bowl, and arrange the bananas around it. Spoon over the extra caramel sauce and enjoy immediately.

Notes:

• Some variations of this dessert are also served with crepes.