This week's feature is the beloved household staple, the banana! Bananas are technically berries that grow from gigantic herbs, reaching heights of 3-6 meters. While there are numerous varieties, the one we are most familiar with is the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish is a dessert banana, known for its sweetness. Although it is the most common banana variety imported by non-tropical countries, its less sweet and starchier counterparts, known as plantains, are a staple food source in tropical regions and make up 85 percent of banana cultivation worldwide.
Bananas are believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia, and their consumption is mentioned in early Greek, Latin, and Arab writings. Alexander the Great encountered bananas during his expedition to India. After the discovery of America, bananas were brought from the Canary Islands to the New World, where they were initially established in Hispaniola and later spread to other islands and the mainland.
Cavendish, or dessert, bananas are most commonly eaten fresh, though they can also be fried or mashed and used in chilled pies or puddings. They are also used to add flavour to muffins, cakes, and breads. Cooking varieties, or plantains, are more commonly utilized in savoury dishes. This week's recipe offers a sweet twist on the classic banana bread!
One Bowl Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 3 ripe bananas
- ⅓ cup melted butter (75 g)
- ½ cup sugar (100 g)
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Salt, to taste
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (185 g)
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips (85 g)
Directions
- In a bowl, mash the bananas until smooth. Add the melted butter and stir until well combined.
- Add the sugar, beaten egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, and flour. Stir until the batter is smooth.
- Mix in the chocolate chips and pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 50 minutes to an hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the bread comes out clean.
- Allow the bread to cool completely before serving. Enjoy!