Recipe
1 cup of salted Cod Fish
1 pound of half ripe baby bananas
1/2 cup of chopped red bell peppers
1/2 cup of chopped celery
1 cup of fresh corn kernels
2 jalapenos chopped
2 cloves of garlic crushed
1/2 cup of chopped onions
2 tablespoons of butter
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
FOR THE CHEESE SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cups of grated cheese (any type, I used pepper jack, cheddar and Havarti) Plus some extra for topping the pie.
2 cups of carnation milk
1 cup of chicken broth
1 teaspoon chili pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Place a large pot of water on the stove to come to a boil. Once the water is boiling add the bananas to with the skin on to it. Allow the bananas to boil until you see the bananas start to split about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain the water. Set aside to cool.
Once the bananas has cooled, remove the peel from it and cut each one down the middle into half lengthwise. Set aside.
In another smaller pot filled with water, add the salted cod and allow this to cook for 35 minutes. This will allow most of the salt to be cooked off of the Cod. Once the Cod is finish cooking, drain the water and allow to cool.
Once the cod is cool enough to handle, using a fork or your fingers shred the cod into small bite size pieces. Set aside.
PREPARE THE CHEESE SAUCE
Heat a skillet on the stove on medium heat and add one tablespoon of butter to it. Once the butter is melted, add the flour. Mix and continue to stir for 2 minutes to allow the flour to cook.
Add in the milk and the chicken broth. Once the liquids has started to simmer, add the nutmeg, chili powder, salt and black pepper. Mix.
Once the liquids has just started to thicken, add in the cheese a little at a time. Keep stirring while you add the cheese. Once all the cheese is melted, remove from the heat and set aside.
For the Vegetables
Heat another skillet on the stove with 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the chopped onions. Allow the onions to cook until it is translucent.
Add in the corn. Allow the corn to cook with the onions for 3-5 minutes. Then add the celery. Allow the celery to cook for 2 more minutes then add all the peppers, the shredded cod, salt and black pepper. Mix and allow everything to cook for 6 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Heat the oven to 360 degrees.
START LAYERING
In a 8 * 8 baking dish or whatever size you have, start layering the cooked bananas in single layers until the bottom of the baking dish is covered.
Next add some of the cheese sauce, then some of the cooked vegetables, then more cheese sauce, then start again. Add another layer of bananas , cheese sauce, vegetables, more cheese sauce. Top with crumbled cheese.
Place in the oven to bake for 40-45 minutes and the top of the pie is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool before cutting into it. I know you will be tempted to cut into it right away…but resist.
Allowing it to cool a little first will help it not falling apart when you cut it.
This dish goes great with Stew Fish.
