The bunches of ripe, bright yellow bananas are used to make banana cake.
Ms. Doan Ngoc Suong grinds the flour to make steamed banana cake.

Tran Thi Hang, head of the Women's Association in Hamlet 5, Tran Hoi Commune, is a renowned baker in the area. She says that steamed banana cake is a traditional folk cake that has existed for a very long time in the banana-growing region of Tran Hoi. Even as a child, she enjoyed her mother's banana cake, which was delicious and memorable. Nearly 50 years have passed, and despite the emergence of many other delicious and exotic cakes, Ms. Hang still cherishes the memory of her mother's steamed banana cake.

Ms. Hang said that making steamed banana cake is very simple; the important thing is choosing the ingredients, plus a little bit of family secret. Tran Hoi's steamed banana cake is delicious because it's made from local produce. The bananas must be ripe black Siamese bananas, because black Siamese bananas have a more fragrant aroma and a sweeter taste than white Siamese bananas.

Ms. Tran Thi Hang (on the left) and her sisters prepare the ingredients for steaming the cakes.

Ms. Doan Ngoc Suong said: "For delicious steamed banana cake, the steamer pot must be lined with young Siamese banana leaves, not old banana leaves, as this will make the cake bitter; the rice flour used must be from a clean, local specialty rice variety; the rich coconut milk must come from young, ripe coconuts that are not yet fully ripe"... these special ingredients, combined with a little tapioca starch and turmeric, make Tran Hoi's banana cake so chewy, fragrant, sweet, and rich, making it strangely appealing.

The first batch of cakes was still steaming on the stove, but the aroma had already captivated everyone.
Products made from bananas by women in Tran Van Thoi.

The first batch of cakes, still steaming, filled the entire kitchen with a wonderful aroma. The scent of bananas and coconut milk blended together, creating an irresistible fragrance that made everyone want to eat them right away.

Just hearing about it makes my mouth water!

The freshwater zone of Tran Van Thoi district is known as the rice granary and also the largest vegetable growing area in the province. Furthermore, it boasts Siamese banana trees, supplying hundreds of tons of fresh and dried bananas to the market each year. Thanks to the abundance of this land, the people of Tran Hoi commune have created delicious traditional dishes from bananas, such as dried banana jam, bananas stewed in coconut, fried banana cakes, and especially the incredibly tasty steamed banana cake with coconut milk.

Performed by Huynh Lam

Source: https://baocamau.vn/banh-chuoi-hap-a1671.html