Banana and Banana Leaves

Bananas both green and ripe are used a great deal in West Indian cooking. They are used in appetizers, as a starchy vegetable when green, and in desserts. When plantains are not available, bananas make a good substitute. Banana leaves which can be 10 feet long and 2 feet wide, are used for wrapping such foods as conkies from Barbados and pasteles from Puerto Rico. Kitchen parchment and aluminum foil make adequate substitutes but do not add the delicate flavour that banana leaves give.