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 love crisps. And caramelly banana crisps? Well, sounds amazing.
Posted by: Alta | July 31, 2009 at 01:39 PM
Oh crap, now I want some of this along with some yummy vanilla ice cream! I have no words except that is simply amazing.
I love the photos, especially of the first one when the butter rum is dripping on the side of the ramekins
Posted by: Jessie | July 31, 2009 at 01:42 PM
Mouth Watering!
Posted by: Dawn (foodnfit) | July 31, 2009 at 01:52 PM
That looks ah-mazing! Thank you!
Posted by: KrisKishere | July 31, 2009 at 05:00 PM
This is awesome!! Very impressive battle. You should submit this to Recipe4Living.com!
Posted by: Hillary | July 31, 2009 at 05:13 PM
Wow, this dessert looks to die for! I love the hot butter rum sauce. And the picture looks great with sauce spilling over the side of the ramekin.
Posted by: Jackie at PhamFatale | July 31, 2009 at 06:41 PM
My goodness that looks good! Wishing I had some bananas right now =)
Posted by: Danielle | July 31, 2009 at 06:51 PM
you know, i've never seen a banana crisp. what a travesty that the wonderful fruit is most often reserved for breads and the like. this is putting the ol' nanner center stage, where it belongs...except for that pesky rum sauce trying to steal the spotlight. :) delicious!
Posted by: grace | July 31, 2009 at 07:01 PM
This sounds so amazingly good!
Posted by: Kevin | July 31, 2009 at 09:05 PM
Teanna, you didn't have to say anything. Just one picture of that luscious dessert and you've won me over.
Posted by: Sophia | July 31, 2009 at 10:31 PM
This looks really yummy! You're making me really hungry and its already close to midnight in Singapore.
Posted by: superfinefeline | August 01, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Oh. My. Gah. This looks TO DIE FOR!! I can't wait to give this a try!!
Posted by: Amy (Sing for your supper) | August 01, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Hey, Teanna! I made this last night and the kids LOVED it just as I knew they would. I doubled the recipe and made four. I will definitely be making this again. I did make a few changes. Once I cooked the bananas I didn't add any of the spices. I added 'em to the crisppart. I also left out the white sugar. My bananas were almost over cooked after being cooked on the stove and then baked for 40 mins. Next time I might not precook 'em but instead pour the brown sugar melted butter mixture on top of the bananas and THEN bake 'em. Did that make sense? Thanks for sharing the recipe. Seriously they went gaga over this one.
~ingrid
Posted by: ingrid | August 02, 2009 at 09:27 PM
Oh my word! I don't think it gets much better than that. I have got to try this!
Posted by: Cheri | August 03, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Drooling. OMG.
Posted by: Lori | August 03, 2009 at 09:28 PM
I'm so making this for dinner tonight!
Posted by: The Gourmet Foodie | August 04, 2009 at 04:52 PM
This sounds really awesome Teanna. I've been wanting to make something like this for a while.
Posted by: Ashley | August 05, 2009 at 11:56 PM
I just bookmarked this - my kind of banana snack.
Posted by: Chanel | August 06, 2009 at 08:04 PM
I love apple crisp but I never thought about banana! This looks deliciously fantastic!
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | August 23, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Everyone has his own way of life, the firm faith, believe they can live very fascinating!
Posted by: Jordan retro 4 | July 08, 2010 at 05:19 AM