Bananes Flambées (Flamed Bananas)

Ingredients

• 6 large ripe bananas (Not over-ripe; unpeeled)
• 0.5 cup unsalted butter
• 0.333 cup sugar
• 1.5 lime juice (Juice of 1½ limes)
• 1 lemon juice (Juice of 1 lemon)
• 0.25 cup water
• 0.333 cup good dark rum
• vanilla ice cream (For serving, optional; amount not specified)

Steps

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 400°F (about 200°C). Trim the ends from each banana, then use the point of a paring knife to make an incision lengthwise down one side of each peel.

2. 2

   Arrange the prepared bananas in a roasting pan or on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, until the skins have turned black and the bananas feel soft to the touch.

3. 3

   Remove the bananas from the oven and keep them at room temperature until serving time.

4. 4

   At serving time, melt the butter in a 10-inch, preferably straight-sided, nonstick pan over medium-high heat.

5. 5

   Stir the sugar, lime juice, lemon juice, and water into the melted butter. Cook for about 5 minutes, until the mixture becomes a golden caramel color.

6. 6

   Carefully unwrap the bananas and place them into the caramel sauce. Use a spoon and fork to gently turn the bananas over in the sauce.

7. 7

   Add the rum and gently shake the pan back and forth briefly to combine. Using a long match or long-handled igniter, carefully ignite the rum.

8. 8

   Using a large, long-handled metal spoon, baste the bananas with the sauce until the flames subside. Remove the pan from the heat.

9. 9

   Serve on warm plates or in shallow bowls, with one banana and some sauce per person. Serve vanilla ice cream alongside, if desired.

Notes

Roasting the bananas in their skins helps keep them intact during the initial cooking. Use fireplace matches or a butane-fueled grill lighter and a long-handled spoon when flambéing; exercise caution around the flames and protect your hands. The source does not specify an amount for the optional ice cream.

Nutrition per serving

• dessert
• French
• flambéed
• fruit dessert
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• make-ahead friendly
• dinner party