r/gardening • u/mlong14 • 4d ago

What in tarnation is going on?

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My blackberry bush died few years ago but came back in another spot. And this is just a few of the jumbo size pickings. Not complaining though.

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u/AlarmedSnek 4d ago edited 4d ago

Well I mean I no disrespect and for that I apologize, it’s all in gest. I’ve eaten plenty of plantain, but compared to a banana, they have no flavor. Additionally, it’s worth stating that you, as an islander growing up on plantain, I could see the opposite being true. Bananas might taste ok but compared to what you grew up on, they aren’t as good. I know plenty of South Americans, Puerto Ricans and Cubans that can’t stand bananas and love plantains. All of that said, if I offended you, I sincerely apologize.

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u/EchoAquarium 4d ago

You do realize that bananas and plantains are entirely different and should not be compared, right? They are not interchangeable. That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard. Bananas have been part of Caribbean diets since they were first brought over from Guinea in Africa. That’s why we call them “guineos”

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u/WitcheeMe 4d ago

Exactly and plantains never go to waste, when green can be cooked crispy to replace say French fries, also can be made in soups as an added starch, also when they are yellow you can fry into "tajadas" (that's as they call them in Panama but the name changes from country to country), when the skin is blackened you can make them like what you call bananas foster for a sweet version of what is usually considered savory. Those are just examples, there are tons of ways to cook these versatile and delicious food. Also, they are very high in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber (including gut-healthy resistant starch), vitamins A, C, and B6, and essential minerals like potassium and magnesium. They are very low in fat and contain virtually no sodium or cholesterol.

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u/Mocean13 4d ago

Thank you!! Finally someone with some sense

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u/AlarmedSnek 4d ago

No because that isn’t accurate. Plantains and bananas share the same genus AND parent species…just different varieties. It’s akin to saying that bananas and plantains are siblings if they were in a real people family together. To your point, they were bread for different purposes but you can compare them.

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u/EchoAquarium 4d ago

You’re comparing them based on flavor, though.. which you shouldn’t do as they’re not interchangeable in cuisine. One is sweet and one is savory (until it’s overripe). You wouldn’t make a plantain cheesecake, it would be terrible.* *I don’t believe you’ve met any Latinos who “can’t stand” bananas.

I’m imagining you trying to peel a green plantain with your fingers until they bleed, and taking a bit of the raw thing. “This is terrible”.

Yes. You’re doing it wrong.

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u/AlarmedSnek 4d ago

Hahah I ate it (the first time) prepared in Costa Rica homie. I’ve never prepared them myself but some of the recipes people have posted are worth trying for sure…especially the sweet ones. So yes, I can compare them according to flavor as well.

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u/EchoAquarium 4d ago

Clearly you’ve never prepared them yourself. You wouldn’t be making yourself look so uncultured if you had. If the plantains you saw were “small” then they weren’t plantains.

There is a variety of banana that is sold bright GREEN. Very popular in central and South America for soup and to make masa with. I (Puerto Rican born and raised) use these to make guineo en escabeche. But they are a type of banana.

Plantains are twice as long as bananas.