‘Banana Flower Noodles’ – A Healthy Dietary Alternative

A new market product that enhances the economic value of banana flowers – ‘Banana Flower Noodles’ – developed by Assistant Professor Theerapap Parnklai, a lecturer in the Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi (RMUTT). This is another menu option that has commercial potential.
Assistant Professor Theerapap explained that as consumers seek convenient and quick meals, noodles and instant noodles have become very popular today. However, when considering the nutritional value of noodles, the main component is flour. Thus, consuming noodles as a main meal may lead to incomplete nutritional intake. To accommodate the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s society, enhancing the nutritional value of noodles by incorporating other nutritious ingredients can provide consumers with beneficial nutrients and promote better health.
Banana flower is a herbal vegetable consumed by many in Thailand and is commonly eaten both raw and cooked, such as in Pad Thai as a side ingredient, banana flower curry, fresh banana flower with prawns, boiled banana flower served with chili paste, banana flower fritters, and so on.”
Banana blossoms are rich in nutrients beneficial to the body. They contain various vitamins and minerals, such as high iron content that helps prevent anemia. Vitamin C enhances the immune system, and vitamin A supports eye health. Additionally, banana blossoms can help lower blood sugar levels, making them suitable for people with high blood sugar levels. They reduce inflammation in the body, contain antioxidants that decrease the risk of cancer, and importantly, are high in fiber, making you feel full and suitable for those who want to control their weight.
For making banana blossom noodle, start by peeling the banana blossom, then soak it in citric acid to prevent darkening. Boil the banana blossom in boiling water until cooked, then blend it into a paste. In preparing the noodle, put bread flour in a mixing bowl, make a well in the center, crack in an egg, add salt, oil, and the blended banana blossom. Gradually mix the flour and add water little by little, knead the mixture until the dough is well combined. Once the dough is kneaded well, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 30 minutes. Once rested, knead the dough again until smooth, use a pasta machine to roll it to the desired thickness, and then cut it into noodles. Sprinkle flour on the noodles to prevent them from sticking. These banana blossom noodles can be cooked to personal preference, whether in soup or as dry noodles.
The banana blossom noodle product is a new market product that adds economic value to banana blossoms. It can be further developed into instant noodles ready to eat to meet the lifestyle demands of people who lead quick-paced lives, valuing convenience and ease. Asst. Prof. Theerapap concluded.
Report and disseminated by: Public Relations Department, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi.