Bananes Flambees

SkyJuice and Flying Fish, p. 210 (Martinique)

¼ cup golden raisins

¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

4 ripe bananas

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons dark brown sugar

Pinch of grated nutmeg

¼ cup rum

A nice basic cooking rum is ok for this - no need to get fancy.

Place the raisins in the orange juice until they expand. Meanwhile, peel the bananas and slice them in half lengthwise. Heat the butter in a large frying pan and add the bananas, round side down. Cook the bananas for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, turning them carefully with a spatula so as not to break them. Mix the sugar and nutmeg with the raisins and juice and pour it over the bananas.

When ready to serve, remove the bananas from the frying pan, reserving the cooking juices, and arrange them on a hot plate. 

Ready for action!

Heat the cooking juices to boiling, add the rum, and light it, pouring it over the bananas. 

The flames shoot up pretty high, but you have to maintain your composure enough to remember to pour the liquid out while it's still on fire.

The alcohol will burn off, leaving you with a rummy aftertaste on the sauteed bananas.

The end product isn't firey at all - just sweet and satisfying.

My Rating: 5/5 "I've been wanting to make a set-stuff-on-fire recipe for ages and I'm so happy that I finally did it. The visuals are spectacular and fortunately so is the flavor. This came out bananas-foster-esque, just a little fruitier and without the ice cream. I heartily recommend trying this both for the novelty and for the deliciousness!"