Yes, as I said yesterday, it tastes as good as it sounds.
In the second and final installment of this week's winning dishes from Top Chef's Restaurant Wars, I present to you this Caramelized Banana Crisp with a Hot Butter Rum Sauce.
I had carte blanche to make whatever I wanted this week, as the concept of the winning restaurant was an American Workshop. I had the idea to try this caramelized banana crisp, so I went with it. I initially wanted to do a banana flambe crisp, by flambeeing (is that a verb?) the bananas and then putting them in the oven in the crisp. But then I read somewhere that Eric Ripert said to not put flambe in a toaster or else it will explode. And when Eric Ripert speaks, I listen.
So I caramelized the bananas in a bit of butter and brown sugar until they got nice and... caramelly. Then, I popped them in the oven with a delicious topping and hoped for the best.
This. was. amazing.
The rum soaked, caramelized bananas take on a wonderfully creamy texture underneath the crisp sugary topping with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.
In the words of Darrel Hammond, AKA Sean Connery in Celebrity Jeopardy from the Saturday Night Live glory days of the late 90s: "You're sitting on a gold mine, Trebek!"
Now, we are not talking about the Penis Mightier here (that's "The Pen IS Mightier"), but this may be the next best invention.
Flambeed Banana Crisp with a Hot Butter Rum Sauce
This is best served with a big scoop of ice cream.
Serves 2
For the Bananas
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 medium bananas
Melt butter in large sauce pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and lower heat to a simmer. Let simmer for 2 min. Slice bananas in a diagonal into 1/3" inch slices. Arrange in a single layer in sauce pan, turning after 2 minutes, until golden brown on each side.
For the Crisp
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter or spray two individual ramekins.
Combine bananas, sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon in a ramekin.
Mix sugar, flour, oats and salt. Cut in butter until it forms crumbs. Scatter mixture over batter and bake 40 minutes or until browned.
I wish I had this for dessert rather than the measly little choco brownie I had on set.
Posted by: jenn | July 30, 2009 at 03:45 AM
Oh, oh wow. Yeah, if it tastes as good as it looks and sounds, I'm totally moving in with you.
Posted by: Caitlin | July 30, 2009 at 03:51 AM
YUMMY! If this tastes anything like bananas fosters, I'm sold! No flambe either (means I get to keep my eyebrows and won't be starting any kitchen fires)
Posted by: Phyllis (me HUNGRY!) | July 30, 2009 at 05:16 AM
Oh. my. God.
Any fruit dessert that spills over the side is a fruit dessert of the Gods!!!!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 30, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Wow, this looks excellent - a fabulous dessert!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | July 30, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Wow - that looks fantastic! I love individual desserts in ramekins - and this is so beautiful with the sauce spilling down over the side!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | July 30, 2009 at 09:19 AM
That is gorgeous! It looks so gooey and delicious! Love the idea.
Posted by: Tracey | July 30, 2009 at 09:40 AM
My mouth is watering after looking at this!
Posted by: ABowlOfMush | July 30, 2009 at 09:55 AM
I am totally drooling here. I can only imagine how awesome that tasted! What a gorgeous photo too!
Posted by: Kristen | July 30, 2009 at 12:09 PM
Oh, Teanna! THIS IS AMAZING! HOLLA! LOL, seriously I'm printing this out to make asap! So easy yet so good! Mama's going to rule tonight after making this!
~ingrid
Posted by: ingrid | July 30, 2009 at 12:24 PM
It's only 9:30 a.m. and all I want is dessert after seeing your banana crisp. This day could go nutritionally wrong very easily.
Posted by: CarolPeterman | July 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM
DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.
Posted by: Sugar B | July 30, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Holy Yum! You rock!
Posted by: Katrina | July 30, 2009 at 02:50 PM
You must exercise a lot. At least I hope you do, because eating like this and having a fast metabolism is NOT fair!
Posted by: Madam Chow | July 30, 2009 at 03:03 PM
Hot butter rum sauce. Yes!!!!! That's the ticket.
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | July 30, 2009 at 04:13 PM
Yes, this is a very good idea! I tend to get distracted when rum or anything caramely is involved, and both are here. Looks incredible.
Posted by: lisaiscooking | July 30, 2009 at 05:54 PM
looks so good! Especially that crisp!
Posted by: cheffresco | July 30, 2009 at 10:32 PM
holy crap! I;ve never even heard of banana crisp but it looks & sounds amazing.
Posted by: Spike | July 31, 2009 at 10:29 AM
I'm speechless, yum! Love the old SNL celebrity Jeopardy skit. My favorite was when Burt Reynolds (Norm McDonald) wrote his name as Turd Ferguson. Thanks for the great flashback.
Posted by: Nicole | July 31, 2009 at 10:30 AM
This looks absolutely fabulous!
Posted by: Jamie | July 31, 2009 at 10:32 AM