Story by Grace Fick, 2021
Banana leaves are more than just the protective layer of any Southeastern Asian sweet treat. They come in different colors and sizes and are used in most traditional cooking procedures. With their tough and rugged exterior, they can be used as a casing or even mats for preparing meals. One of my grandmother’s favorite Laotian desserts, Khao Thoum, is a sweet sticky rice, soaked in condensed milk, and then wrapped in warm banana leaves. This nostalgic treat reminds me of my grandmother because when I was little, I remember helping my grandmother make them. I would stand on a chair next to her and put a spoonful of the sweet sticky rice onto the banana leaves. Then my grandmother would wrap everything up with brown rope and place them into a bamboo steam basket. This tradition of making Khao Thoum is one that I will always cherish with my grandmother. Even though I don’t enjoy this Laotian delicacy as much, I appreciate the memories I’ve made with her and the potential of passing this recipe down to future generations. Aside from sweet dishes made with banana leaves, there are also many savory dishes such as Mok Pa. This easy dish is a very common dish that has fish wrapped into banana leaves and then steamed. This dish, like many others, are culinary staples that spread across Laotian regions and cultural generations.
All of these dishes make up a large portion of Laotian cuisine as we don’t use utensils to eat. We use our hands for almost all meals, and the use of banana leaves preserves that. Apart from using banana leaves to steam foods or as canvases to cook, they also have health benefits when consumed. This incorporation of various vegetables is a staple in Laotian culture and these leaves are no exception. They contain various polyphenols, which are natural antioxidants, potassium and various vitamins.
Even when cooking in the kitchen with my grandmother, there will be times where banana leaves don’t serve as an ingredient. Rather, they serve as a plate or protection when cooking. For example, when cooking one of my favorite Laotian dishes, Kopiak, my grandmother makes and cuts the dough on banana leaves to protect our granite countertops. I have also seen her cut her favorite fruits with banana leaves under her to catch anything that falls. This unique tradition allows my grandmother to feel like she is still in her village in Laos and maintain that sense of culture while being thousands of miles away.