Banana Blossom Salad

1 banana blossom

Juice of 1 lemon and 1 teaspoon salt

1 handful of coarsely grated fresh coconut

Half a carrot, coarsely grated

1 bunch of fresh coriander leaves

1 handful of salted peanuts, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Deep fried crispy shallots

Salad Dressing

1.5 tablespoon dried shrimp, soaked in water (omit if vegetarian)

2 tablespoons tamarind juice

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 tablespoons sugar or grated palm sugar

2 tablespoons fish sauce (use soy sauce if vegetarian)

1 large clove garlic, minced finely

1cm piece of old ginger, peeled and finely grated

1 chili padi, chopped finely (optional)

1. Remove the outer red bracts of the banana blossom, and the little flowers in between. (You can use the red bracts as decoration, and deep fry the flowers, stamens removed, in some batter)

2. Juice the lemon and add it to a big bowl of water with the salt.

3. Thinly slice the banana blossom and immediately soak in the water with lemon juice and salt.

4. Make the salad dressing by combining all the ingredients.

5. Strain the sliced banana blossom and mix with all the other ingredients and toss with the salad dressing. 

Here's what I did with the little banana flowers. You must remove the inside stamens or they will be bitter. The batter was flour, egg, salt, water and some turmeric powder.