Chicken And Coconut In Banana Leaves Recipes

CHICKEN & COCONUT IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together soy sauce, barbecue sauce, ginger and coconut milk.
• Place chicken drumsticks, thighs, plantain, and sweet potato in a bowl and pour over the marinade. Marinate 30 minutes.
• Gently warm the whole banana leaf over a fire or gas burner until the leaf is pliable but not burnt, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Cut the leaf into four large squares, measuring at least 30 x 30 cm. Carefully cut four long, thin strips from the rib of the leaf, these will be used as 'string' to tie the packets later.
• Place a piece of chicken onto each banana leaf square and evenly divide the vegetables on top. Pour in any remaining marinade and fold the leaves around the chicken like you are wrapping a present.
• Securely tie with the rib strips and place the packets onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until the chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center, about 1 hour. Check the packets occasionally to make sure they do not burn.

MOROCCAN-SPICED CHICKEN IN BANANA LEAF

Steps:

• Prepare a grill for medium heat.
• In a large bowl, mix together the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, olives, cardamon, garlic, carrots, bell pepper, onion, 1 tablespoon of the granulated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt. Add to a cast-iron pan and put on the grill over direct heat. Bring to a rapid boil, close the lid and boil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• Toss the chicken pieces in a bowl with the olive oil, then add the ras el hanout, cumin, cinnamon, remaining 1 tablespoon granulated garlic, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt and mix until uniformly covered.
• Arrange the banana leaves on a baking sheet. Place 2 to 3 pieces of chicken on each leaf. With a slotted spoon or fork, cover the chicken with the sauce. Sprinkle a teaspoon each of the lemon zest and cilantro on top of each portion. Fold each banana leaf like an envelope and secure with cook's twine or toothpicks.
• Place the baking sheet with the banana envelopes on the grill over direct heat and cook until the chicken is cooked through but still juicy, 30 to 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

TAISI MOA (SAMOAN CHICKEN BAKED IN BANANA LEAVES)

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, barbeque sauce (I used a Chinese one), ginger and coconut milk. Check the taste of the marinade adding more soy sauce, barbecue sauce or ginger to your taste.
• Place the chicken, plantain and sweet potato in a large bowl and pour over the marinade. Marinate for 30 minutes.
• Gently warm the banana leaf over a fire until the leaf is pliable (do not burn it), just 3 minutes. (Istead of banana leaf and baking sheet, you can use a baking mold with lid, it's not the same but it's better then nothing).
• Cut the leaf into four large squares from 30 x 30 cm.
• Place the chicken onto the banana leaf square and evenly divide the vegetables on top.
• Pour any remaining marinade and fold the leaves around the chicken.
• Tie the package and place them in a baking sheet (lined with baking paper).
• Bake in a previously pre-heated oven at 180°C until the chicken is tender and completely done (around 1 hour).
• Check the package occasionally to make sure they do not burn.