BAKED BANANAS
4 servings
I. Bananas take on a surprisingly rich flavor when baked. This is also an excellent treatment for bananas to be used in Banana Bread Cockaigne, especially if the bananas are not as ripe as you would like them to be.
Preheat the oven to 375°F, prepare a medium-hot grill fire, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high. Place in a shallow baking dish or on the grill:
- 4 bananas in their skins
Bake or grill over indirect heat, turning occasionally, until the skins are black and have begun to split, about 20 minutes. Serve hot, in their skins. If desired, on opening, sprinkle with:
- (Lemon or lime juice)
- (Salt or powdered sugar)
II. CANDIED
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Melt together in a small saucepan and boil for 5 minutes:
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup water
Cool slightly, until just warm. Peel, halve crosswise and then once lengthwise, and place in a buttered shallow dish:
- 2 slightly underripe bananas
Sprinkle lightly with:
- Salt
Add to the cooled syrup:
- 1½ tablespoons lemon or lime juice
Pour the syrup over the bananas and bake for 30 minutes, turning the fruit after 15 minutes. Serve sprinkled with:
- Rum
- (Chopped candied ginger)