The Cheapest and yet Nourishing Food Recipe for Vegetarians

I've worked with the Foreign Service before and as such I luckily had some experiences tasting sumptuous food prepared by the best chefs in town. They are good but a little bit expensive for the common masses.

On the other hand, the Tender Core of Banana Trunk; is somehow different although you cannot find it everywhere, or perhaps, it is rarely sold in the market. It is not because it is that expensive; but in fact it's the cheapest food obtainable in the farm. Maybe you can get them free if you are diligent enough to have a little strolling in the woods, much more so when you have a banana plantation. Above all, it is an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and potassium, they provide fiber, are low in fat, cholesterol-free and low in sodium. (Source: http://www.greenhousebusiness.com/banananinfo.html)

The Philippine "Saba" is one variety of bananas suitable for the aforesaid recipe. Other varieties are acrid and you may not like the taste.

Ingredients:
I kilo tender core of banana trunk (ubod) - peeled and sliced.
1 piece ginger
1 pc. onion
1 pc. Chili pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 small pack of blackpepper
2 cups of coconut milk
½ cup cooking oil
1 can sardines
Salt
2 tablespoons fish sauce (Patis)
A pinch of Monosodium glutamate (according to your taste)

Preparation:
1. Use gloves and coveralls when cutting into the trunk as the sap from the banana trunk seriously stains clothes and hands.
2. Peel and slice the tender core of the trunk ,
3. Remove dried sap. Also remove the most inner core which is a little bitter.

How to cook:
4. Soak into saltwater for a few hours before use to avoid dark discoloration.
5. In a kettle, boil the core until half-cooked. Set aside.
6. Heat the pan and pour cooking oil
7. Saute with garlic and onion.
8. Pour the coconut milk until boiled and dense. Put ginger.
9. Put the half-cooked core into the pan. Wait until boiled.
10. Mix all the remaining ingredients including sardines. Stir.
11. Serve hot .

This is a delicious addition to dishes when served hot with steamed or fried rice.

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