Mone de Pollo (Tabasco Chicken Steamed in Banana Leaf)
Tender chicken in a green herb and charred tomato sauce, steamed in banana leaf parcels until juicy and fragrant.
- Time1 hr 10
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.49 a head
- Oven180°C (160°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Dry fry the tomatoes, onion, garlic and chillies in a hot pan for 8 to 10 minutes, turning, until blistered and soft.
- 2
Blend them with the coriander, tarragon, masa harina, oil, lime juice and salt to a thick green sauce. Stir through the chicken.
- 3
Cut the banana leaves into eight 30 cm squares and soften them over a gas flame or in hot water for a few seconds. Make 4 stacks of 2 squares, crossing them.
- 4
Spoon a quarter of the chicken and sauce into the middle of each. Fold the leaves over to make a sealed parcel and tie with string, or wrap in foil.
- 5
Steam the parcels over boiling water for 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through with no pink. If you have no steamer, bake them at 180°C (160°C fan) for 40 minutes instead.
40 min - 6
Open at the table and eat with rice or tortillas. The sauce in the parcel is the best part.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.