Remove from saucepan and set aside to cool. Rebecca and I launched the My Plate is Always Full Podcast! Heat enough oil to cover plantains, drain plantains and fry until golden. This crispy roasted okra is not slimy and bursting with flavor from the homemade blackening seasoning. Then add garlic and onions and cook for a few minutes. Then, add 1 cup rinsed and drained rice, stirring to toast the rice and make sure all the grains are evenly coated with the seasoned pea mixture for another 5 minutes. Step 2. I grew up in Jamaica eating fried and boiled dumplings made in various forms with varied ingredients. Think glass, ceramic or stainless steel. This hearty soup is inspired by the soups and stews that my Puerto Rican mother-in-law has cooked for me. When they are ready, strain the bananas and place them in the ice water to cool and stop cooking. puerto rican green banana dumplings puerto rican green banana dumplings. This video shows you the basics of cooking Jamaican green banana.Ingredient:Green bananasaltoil.Follow vi. As in so green you probably wont be able to find them in a typical American grocery store. Place the grated banana in a bowl, add flour, salt and mix to combine. Add sazon, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf and continue to cook for another two or three minutes then add gandules andchicken stock, bring to a boil. In the same pot, place 8 cups of water and 2 tbsp of salt and bring to a boil. Place the dough between two pieces of floured parchment paper, and use a rolling pin to roll out the dough in a rectangular shape to a 1/2 to 3/4-inch thickness. Marinaded bananas can be kept covered in the refrigerator up to 1 week. My famous dairy-free, vegan, Paleo, and AIP cheese recipe is now available in a convenient mix through a collaboration with Legit Bread Company! Slice the dumpling dough into 2-inch squares. You can garnish the bowls with sliced avocado, cilantro, and/or a lime wedge. Once boiling, lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Pickled bananas can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week, make sure to keep them covered. Bring salted water to boil on medium-high in a large pot. Rub a little oil on the leaf as well. Plantains are sweeter when ripe and even more sweeter when cooked. Add salt and olive oil. Since I am from Georgia, classic southern style chicken and dumplings are in my DNA. The bolitas (dumplings) are made from green plantains and not any type of flour. so keep refrigerated. Puerto Rican Sausage Soup with Rice . Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, without stirring, for 10 minutes. Shop small this year and support women- and BIPOC-owned businesses and sustainable and ethical B Corps. Add garlic, lime juice, bay leaf, cook for another 2 minutes. In the meantime follow us on Instagram@my.plate.is.always.full or visit ourwebsite! I also used to purchase it at Chinese supermarkets East Brunswick and Indian supermarkets in Edison when I lived there. Variations of boiled dumplings include Cassava Dumplings and green banana dumplings. Drain the water and peel the bananas. This will give it an extra tang (if desired). All Rights Reserved. Heat oil in pot over medium high heat. Season the bananas with kosher salt to taste. Chicken and dumplings with a Puerto Rican twist: the dumplings are made from green plantains, making them gluten-free, Paleo, and Whole30. Healthier Steps. Make sure to checkout the RECIPE INDEX. 2 tbsp sofrito $9.95. The recipe below for the sofrito produces about 4 cups. In a large soup pot, quick saute the sofrito in the achiote oil. Add salt, garlic powder, cumin, and annatto the food processor. Include some more Puerto Rican flavors on your dinner table! Bring stock to a boil. I will be looking for you and Joan in 2014. If you have never eaten boiled green bananas then you should try it, it is a healthy substitute for potatoes in the diet. Add the tomato sauce and cook for another 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Place the bananas in boiling water and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of oil to make them peel easier. Paleo, gluten-free, Whole30, and keto, this is one of my favorite summer side dishes. nice the plantain dumpling is such a classic and so tasty! Add milk, oil, and salt. The cooking of the pig is an all-day affair, starting early and often lasting all day. You can go andsubscribe now! - Culantro is a sister to cilantrothe flat-leafed soft herb is readily available at Caribbean markets; use all cilantro in the recipe if you cannot find it. Here we are starting 2014 with a great challenge: Let's tackle some internationally known ethnic dishes - and present them in new, creative and exciting ways. Reserve 1 full cup of sofrito. Check after 15 minutes for this, just in case. Once boiling, add the onion, celery, and cilantro stems. What to Serve with Fried Plantains. Heat over medium for a few minutes to warm up the oil just slightly. The soup is usually served with pan de agua (Puerto Rican bread similar to French bread), pique criollo, avocado . When it comes to classic chicken and dumplings, national treasure Dolly Parton has a recipe that is beautiful in its simplicity, from which I took inspiration for this recipes broth and dumpling-style. Lower the heat of the water to a rolling boil. Place the vinegar, EVOO, garlic, onions, bay leaf and peppercorns in a sauce pan and bring to a simmer. ), Fast & Flavorful Paleo Cooking (signed paperback! Season with salt and pepper and stir occasionally. Some people also add bacon fat, pork, or beans to the dish. Our Creative Cooking Crew took December 2013 off for the holidays. Let the escabeche cool, or place it in an ice bath as well. Additionally, they contain potassium, which softens hair and promotes growth. Position a box grater over a large mixing bowl and carefully grate the bananas on the small holes of the box grater until they become a paste. Strain out achiote seeds. Try some of these traditional recipes: As always you can find tons of delicious PR dishes in myPuerto Rican recipe collection. Chicken and dumplings with a Puerto Rican twist: the dumplings are made from green plantains, making them gluten-free, Paleo, and Whole30. Guineos En Escabeche tastes better the following day as the flavors meld. The plantains-dumplings that are popular with asopao de pollo and asopao de gandules are made from root vegetables, breadfruit, green banana, plantains, milk, eggs and flour or cornmeal. Lower heat to medium low and cookcovered for about 15 minutes the add gandules and cook for another 15 minutes or until dumplings are firm. I'm Puerto Rican and the first thing that came to mind was pasteles. Because green bananas have a lot of slimy residue, try peeling them under running water. Assemble the pasteln: Cover the bottom of the casserole dish with a single layer of the fried plantain strips. It is popular in Spain, Latin America, Caribbean cuisine, and other countries that were at one point colonized by Spain, countries include the Philippines and Guam. I share vegan and gluten-free recipes because of past health issues. Grate the bananas and yautas then add the salt, vinegar, oil and sazn. Simmer the bananas for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the guineos are tender enough to pierce with a fork. During my most recent trip to see her, which was sadly due to the death of my father-in-law, she taught me how to make asoapo (kind of like a gumbo, with rice as a primary component) with bolitas, or plantain dumplings. by: Jessica Romanowski. Pour the cold stock into a saucepan and all the spices, add the plantain, and cook over moderate heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the soup is thick. Peel and slice the bananas at a slight bias about a 1/2 inch thick. Different herb than cilantro, although the flavor is similar. Are the dumplings dense like mine? Pasteles are Puerto Rican dumpling filled with Beef or Chicken of encased in masa dough that is then wrapped in a single banana leaf. I remember my grandmother making them for breakfast with eggs or at lunch or dinner with codfish. I have seen it labeled as ngo gai at Vietnamese grocery stores before, and other names for the herb include recao, shadow beni, and Mexican coriander. Honestly, to make guineos en escabeche the bananas need to be very green. For more nutrition and fiber, sprinkle on nuts and your preferred dried fruit. Drain the boiled cod to remove excess salt and then boil again. Freda, you can use cassava flour but not cassava or tapioca starch. In our culture we have domplines (pronounced "dom-plee-ness), which are our version of dumplings, except, they are not stuffed. Add milk to the pot (this helps prevent the green bananas from staining the pot) and bring to a boil. I will check out the website, thank you so much! Just two friends and former chefs talking obsessively about food. Cover and cook for 20-30 minutes or until they are firm and cooked through. weeknight Paleo recipes, fast and flavorful Paleo recipes, plantain dumplings, gluten-free dumplings, Puerto Rican sofrito recipe, chicken soup recipe, Paleo dumplings recipe, Puerto Rican chicken soup, gluten-free chicken and dumplings, Gluten-Free Cuppa Cuppa Sticka Peach Cobbler (Paleo, AIP, vegan options), Latin American Paleo Cooking (SIGNED PAPERBACK! Directions. I have a nice instructional post over at the Pioneer Woman which explains the peeling process in detail, Plantains 101, everything you need to know. But dont worry, they are likely to be stocked at your local Asian or Latin market. I was blown away by how easy the plantain dumplings were to make and how much character and delicious flavor they added to the stew. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes. This looks like such a fun dumpling dish to try , This sounds very interesting, Id be curious about the texture seeing as green plantains are so starchy. Add 3 cups water and cook another 45 minutes. Add the diced onions and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Instructions. Unripe bananas are commonly referred to as guineos. When referring to its ripened counterpart, the yellow (ripened) banana, the name guineo is occasionally used. Make the dumplings: Peel bananas by slicing off the tops and bottoms and making several slits through the peel along its length. Green bananas have a glycemic index that ranges from 30 to 50. The oil does not need to be too deep (maybe 1/2 inch). Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium sauce pot. They are a traditional holiday side dish. In my family we dont add tomato sauce but rather use finely chopped plum tomatoes and add an additional garlic clove as well as that in the sofrito. With a tablespoon or ice cream scoop carefully add dumplings into stock. Cut off ends of green bananas and make a slit lengthwise from top to bottom barely touching the flesh. Boiled green bananas, sauteed onions, garlic, and green olives. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the water, garlic, kosher salt, and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. 1/4 tsp salt Because of this, eating green bananas in moderation may assist to improve cardiovascular health. Blend or process until the mixture is smooth, about 30 to 45 seconds. The green bananas used in guineos en escabeche are very similar to plantains. Peel green bananas, cut the ends off the banana, make a vertical cut just beneath the skin to reveal the white flesh, pry the skin off using a knife or peel with the knife. 3. I advise you to use the same quantity of lime juice and then taste and adjust as desired. Melt the butter or lard over medium heat in large saut pan. Guienitos are often served for special occasions around the holidays but I find them tasty and refreshing as a summer side dish as well. Strain the broth into a large vessel and reserve if making the soup immediately (if waiting more than 2 hours, store in the refrigerator. So the green banana is usually handled similarly to green plantain. Prep beans: Rinse and soak beans for 8 hours or overnight. Add 1 cup of the prepared sofrito, 2 tablespoons of the prepared adobo, and 3 tablespoons of the prepared sazn and cook, stirring occasionally, to fry the seasonings, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cook until onions and peppers have softened. It is an essential mineral that the body needs for the purification of the blood, healthy neuron function, and improve muscle mobility. Ground beef filling. The professor of the UPR in Humacao, who has specialized in capturing the history of Puerto Rican food, said that the Taino Indians and the Spaniards, as well as the Africans, influenced the gastronomy of the Island. Meat Pie (Pastelillo) $1.5. Chloe, Im so happy you enjoyed it. Read more. I share vegan and gluten-free recipes because of past health issues. Add a large pinch of salt. 21 Green Banana Dough Recipes. They are deceptively easy to make, and quite tasty. 1 14 oz. They shouldnt be even slightly yellow or even slightly ripening. Though guineos en escabeche is a popular dish, this staple Puerto Rican concoction is usually associated with seafood dishes. Step 2: Rinse, then boil the dried salt cod. Make the sofrito: Place the onion, garlic, chopped cilantro or culantro, and peppers in a blender or food processor with 1/4 cup water. A typical side dish in Puerto Rico is guineos en escabeche, which is pickled green bananas. Boil the bananas for approximately 20 minutes on medium-low heat. Rub the butter into the flour mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until coarse crumbs form. Grates coconut, green bananas, hard cheese, and horseradish. The Curious Coconut / TheCuriousCoconut.com, boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces. My fear of being gluten free was not being able to eat dumpling but its full steam ahead from here thank you so much. I had chicken and dumplings for the first time when I was in the sixth grade, at a friends house for dinner. Lechn asado (whole roast suckling pig) Lechn asado and arroz con gandules are the main foods focused around Christmas dinner. 3 hr 10 min. When the chicken is cooked through, turn off the heat. Make the dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 tablespoon prepared adobo, salt, and baking soda. Dont double the lime juice or vinegar if you ever double this recipe because it can make them too strong. 2. Pour the flour, cornmeal, and salt into a bowl and mix thoroughly. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add onion and cook until vibrant, about 2 minutes. Thanks for the reply! 3. View all recipes by Michelle Blackwood, RN . Boiled green bananas, sauteed onions, garlic, green olives. Get discounted copies of my cookbookhere. But it warms your heart and sticks to your ribs just like a southern chicken and dumplings recipe. Add the tomato sauce and peas. LUSH: Top view of the banana trees area at the farm in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, on July 21, 2021. You can keep the dumplings plain or add some seasonings to them, its up to you. Discard the bay leaf and garlic. The dough can be made with numerous ingredients such as cassava, taro or green bananas. Additionally, bananas include prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber, all of which aid with digestion. Combine lard and achiote seeds in a saucepan over medium-low heat; heat until lard is melted, and reddish in color, about 5 minutes. Make 1/2 tsp balls and drop them inside the soup. Make the dumplings by combining the mashed green banana, garlic, achiote and salt. Set the balls aside on a plate until they are ready to cook. For the pasteles recipe that follows try the following steps: Step 1: Anchioto and Sofrito: Make the Anchiote Oil and the sofrito and refrigerate. I confess. Scoop about a tablespoon of mixture and add to the pot of pastele stew. Norma, this is delicious, looks so home made and perfect for cold nights. x. I love your food combinations and always feel like Im on vacation when I read your posts! This is due to the presence of short-chain fatty acids in such bananas. Just saw your comment, yes, wow so close! Plantains 101, everything you need to know, Habichuelas Guisadas | Puerto Rican Beans, Bacalao a la Vizcaina (Basque Style Stewed Salted Cod), Yuca en Escabeche | Cassava in Olive Oil & Vinegar, Pastelon (Puerto Rican Sweet Plantain Lasagna), Sopa de Pollo con Fideo (Chicken Noodle Soup), Asopao de Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken and Rice Soup). Used ripe banana, and mashed it instead of grating. recao), found in Latin groceries, 1 pound pink beans, found online or in the Latino aisle of your grocery, soaked then cooked, 28 oz tomato pure, crushed tomatoes or passata, 2 teaspoons freshly ground achiote seeds (a.k.a. 1 cup rice Chop bananas and add to a large bowl, pour the sauteed onion mixture over the banana and gently stir, add green olives and salt to taste. Plan on it! Serve with white rice and if available a slice of avocado. Andria, Im so happy you enjoyed it. Which island are you from? There are exclusive discount codes for my audience scattered throughout, plus details about Black Friday sales. Pour the escabeche over the cooked bananas. The dumplings are made into golf size balls and often seasoned with spices and herbs. Freeze the remainder for future use in 1 cup or cup containers. In the DR, plantain is referred to as pltano and banana as guineo. A regular American grocery store probably wont carry them because they are so green. Simmer until the onions and garlic are fragrant and soft. Sounds delicious. To do so, simply cut down the middle of the peel, being careful to not slice the banana itself. This has been a long standing recipe in my family. It was creamy and delicious, and so different from what I ate at home. I was curious to combine the flavors and ingredients in my grandmother's chicken and rice soup with American chicken and dumplings. If you boil them too long they will come apart. Read more. I spent years dreaming about that meal. And its always a bonus to be able prep some side dishes ahead of time when youre cooking up a feast. Set aside. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, add onion, and cook until vibrant, about 2 minutes. My goal is to help you make healthier choices and show you how healthy eating is easy and delicious. Would love to try some time! Repeat with another layer of plantains, meat, and cheese (reserve the remaining 1 cup of cheese). Learn how your comment data is processed. Im going to try it. It eases pressure in the arteries and blood vessels. 4.7 7. Guineos En Escabeche (Pickled Green Banana Salad). The word Guineo comes from Guinea, a country in West Africa, as it is one of the places from which bananas originate. Directions: Form dumplings from 1/2 tablespoonful's of shredded banana, garlic and salt. because I made these and it did not go well. Guineos (pronounced [ineos]) usually refers to an unripe banana. They also sell breadfruit, go on Thursdays when the truck delivers groceries or find out from the produce manager which day of the week they get new stuff. Saut for 5 minutes. Fill a large bowl with ice water and set aside. Alternatively, you can use a food processor. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Place a tablespoon of the filling in the center of the masa. The rice is seasoned with an authentic and flavorful Puerto Rican sofrito cooking base, making this a delicious gluten-free, budget friendly dish perfect for days when you need something easy and filling. We don't do spam. Try it alongside ensalada de coditos, (PR macaroni salad), pinchos de pollo or slow cooker pernil. Knead the dough for 5-6 minutes. 1 hours ago Peel the green bananas and wash with salted water. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Plating: In heated rimmed soup bowls or plates serve the beans and top with 2-3 dumplings. Put the bananas in the water and boil for about 20 minutes, or until the bananas are soft enough for you to insert a fork, but not so soft that the bananas crumbles. Place the grated banana in a bowl, add flour, salt and mix to combine. Get discounted copies of my cookbookhere. Do not overcook! Pre-order now to enjoy truly legit cheese that melts and stretches like the real deal. Season with achiote, liquid smoke, salt (if using) and pepper to taste. However, you can find the detailed recipe with exact ingredients and step-by-step instructions below. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook, without stirring, for 10 minutes. If you want to liven up the recipe even more, you can add one or two minced cloves of garlic to the dough. 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 ratings) Pineapple, Coconut & Tequila Slushy. 2 green plantains, peeled and grated (using smallest holes on hand grate. Brian is grating 20lbs of green bananas and the total t. Bless those hands!! Meanwhile, you can prepare the escabeche marinade. Thank you for visiting The Noshery! Coconuts, coffee (brought by the Arabs and Corsos to Yauco from Kafa, Ethiopia), organo brujo, okra, tamarind, yams, sesame seeds, gandules (pigeon peas in English), many varieties of banana fruit, other root vegetables and Guinea hen, all came to Puerto Rico from, or at least through, Africa.African slaves also introduced the deep-frying of food, such as cuchifritos. Plantain Dumpling Stew. Consuming green bananas regularly can help your colon stay healthy. Reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour. 2 tablespoons olive oil. Place dumplings in boiling water, reduce to simmer for 30 minutes, dumplings should become more buoyant. Scrape up any bits that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to incorporate them into the brothy mix. It's more like deep fried dough, which is a common staple in the Caribbean. This is a fairly simple step, and once done will keep for a week or so in the refrigerator. Set aside. Peel and slice the bananas at a slight bias about a 1/2 inch thick. Boil gently for 10 minutes. Add the sliced green bananas and boil until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. About 10 minutes. He ate it with such relish and after his third serving I told him what they were. 6 cups chicken stock Place cup of the masa on top of the leaf and spread to approximately cover the leaf leaving a small indentation in the middle. When the bananas are boiled, drain them and put them in ice water to stop the cooking process. 6 aji dulce peppers, found in Latin groceries, seeded, quartered, Nice handful of culantro (a.k.a. Below is the basic recipe for domplines. Bring salted water to boil on medium-high in a large pot. Puerto Rican Sausage Soup with Noodles . This chicken and dumpling soup is inspired by the Puerto Rican asopao de gandules con bolitas, replacing the beans with chicken and omitting the rice to make a gluten-free, Paleo, and Whole30 meal. Make the sazn: In a small bowl, whisk together the annatto, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, salt, pepper, and turmeric. Vitamin C is one of the top 3 best anti-aging ingredients to look for in non-toxic skincare. Salt to taste. One of the smaller banana trees, the plantain banana (Musa 'Dwarf Puerto Rican') brings a tropical look to even small spaces as the plant only reaches 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Make the adobo: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, turmeric, oregano, and cumin. Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik. So popular in fact that the English name is simply Puerto Rican green bananas. Although Guineos En Escabeche is frequently served for special events around the holidays, I also enjoy them as a delightful and refreshing side dish in the summer. Home Recipes Side Dish Guineos En Escabeche (Pickled Green Banana Salad). This amazing Guineos En Escabeche is one of the most delicious green banana dishes. Thanks for your comments and appreciate your visit. The broth is infused with bold flavor from the authentic sofrito, made with garlic, culantro, oregano, red bell pepper, and onion. 16 juin 2022 parasitism in the sonoran desert. Incorporate well until the flour feels sandy. Add peeled plantains to a food processor. Here we are starting 2014 with a great challenge: Lets tackle some internationally known ethnic dishes and present them in new, creative and exciting ways. Combine yuca, green plantains, yautia, and milk in a blender; puree into a thick paste the consistency of oatmeal. Blend until smooth. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight, then serve. Next, pour the escabeche over the cooked bananas. Green bananas are basically unripe bananas, they have less sugar and more resistant starch than ripe bananas, Green bananas provide a great source of potassium, a moderate source of fiber, and a small amount of protein. Oh lovely, enjoy! Place the banana flesh into a bowl of clean water and discard peel. Prebiotics improve gut health and lowers glycemic levels. It is a hearty, filling soup that tastes great year round and comes together easily on a busy weeknight. In a separate pot, heat the oil over medium high heat and then add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium high heat, and then lower to a simmer. . Prep time 2 hours Cook time 1 hour Serves 4-6. 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed Add the water and knead to form a dough ball. How to grate green bananas fast & easy for Puerto Rican pasteles using Grandma Ann's Electric grater. The most ubiquitous dish on the Puerto Rican menu and probably its most recognizable "unofficial official" dish is the mofongo. Despite the fact that it requires the most time to digest, fiber generates a sensation of satiety and fullness. You will be using the Dutch oven again shortlyno need to clean it. Culantro and cilantro are two different herbs, although they have a similar flavor, and are botanical cousins. Banana Dumpling (Alcapurria) $1.5. Add the water and knead to form a dough ball. Bolitas de Guineo (green banana dumplings) 1 green banana (pealed and grated) 1/2 tsp crushed garlic 1 tsp achiote oil Salt to taste . Either method works, and the soup is still delicious if you make it like I did in the video. Thank you for sharing your feedback. 5. Green bananas have antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is used in some Asian cuisines (definitely Vietnamese, as I have been served culantro with pho at restaurants before) in addition to Caribbean cooking. The finished product is a richly-flavored chicken soup broth made from simmering a whole chicken in water with celery leaves and a whole onion, then shredding the meat and plopping it back into the pot. Guineos are a popular fruit in the country and are used for the popular dessert 'chocobanano', which is a frozen guineo covered in chocolate, sprinkles, or other toppings. When my friend Alida, described a favorite family tradition involving beans and dumplings, I knew I had to try it. Youll find culantro at international grocery stores. A graduate of Platt College Culinary Arts Institute. One of the smaller banana trees, the plantain banana (Musa 'Dwarf Puerto Rican') brings a tropical look to even small spaces as the plant only reaches 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. 1 can gandules (peas), drained Instructions. In a medium sized non-reactive pot combine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, onions, and bay leaf, and peppercorn. Vitamin A, which is included in bananas, heals dry skin and smooths the rough texture. Make the dumplings by . Guineos en escabeche is a marinaded green banana side dish thats very popular in Puerto Rico. . you can grate green banana and add it to the casserole before adding the rice. Make stew: In a hot large skillet dry saut the onion for 3 minutes, stirring, until they soften and begin to adhere. But wait. Spiced Chicken Soup With Green Banana Dumplings. Take the time to sit, dine, and enjoy life with one another. They are rolled into small balls and deep-fried. Peel the green bananas by using the back of a spoon (or the side of your thumb) to get between the peel and the flesh, then sliding down and along each cut (see headnote) to release the banana from the peel. Did you use green bananas or a green plantain? Scrape the inside of the box grater to get all the banana paste into the bowl. After 5 minutes or so, check the bananas for softness. When I tested this, I processed, scraped the sides down, then repeated 3 more times to get the smoothest dough possible.