Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2024)

While it may sound odd, Filipino Banana Ketchup is a delicious condiment that is sweet and tangy, and remarkably similar to tomato ketchup in flavor. Give it a try with this easy recipe. You might just forget there are bananas in there!

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (1)What Is Banana Ketchup?

If you sit down for lunch in the Philippines, you might want to look twice before you reach for the nearest red condiment to add to your fries.

Most people outside of the Philippines, are not familiar with this red, tomato ketchup alternative. But, in the Philippines, people love their banana ketchup.

As the name implies, this red, sweet and tangy condiment is, in fact, made from bananas. But, if you were to taste it, you’d probably never guess.

Why Bananas In Ketchup?

Credit for banana ketchup goes to Maria Orosa (1893–1945) who was a food chemist with a goal to reduce the Philippines’ reliance on imported goods, like tomatoes.

As Americans began traveling to the Philippines, they introduced the locals to canned goods and American condiments, like ketchup. Maria Orosa decided to try making a similar condiment out of a local crop: bananas and added little red dye to make the condiment more appealing and visually similar to the American import.

Near the end of WWII, banana ketchup began being mass-produced by Magdala V. Francisco, Sr. One story tells that the initial growth in popularity of banana ketchup was sparked by American soldiers in the Philippines who ran out of tomato ketchup.

But, the concept of a banana condiment is not a strange one in the Philippines. In fact, banana sauce has been widely used in the Philippines for ages.

And yes, most versions of banana ketchup that you will pick up from the store are in fact dyed red.

No trace of tomato, what-so-ever is in the traditional version of this “ketchup”.

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2)

Our Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe

For our version of banana ketchup, we did decide to add a small amount of tomato paste. This allows us to dye the ketchup naturally, and gives the flavor of the ketchup a hint of a familiar, tomato flavor.

We were honestly quite skeptical about this condiment.

I mean, really, tomatoes and bananas just really don’t sound like they belong together.

But, we forged ahead.

And, let me tell you, we were pleasantly surprised.

Actually, we became slightly addicted to this sweet and tangy sauce.

It tastes surprisingly like tomato ketchup in the sweet and tangy categories, there’s just a lack of bright, acidic, tomato-ness. But, honestly, we didn’t really miss it.

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (3)

How To Use Banana Ketchup

Now, here comes another interesting part.

Traditionally, banana ketchup is used as a condiment on Filipino beef omelettes and garlic fried rice.

Back up a minute.

So, we’re putting bananas on our eggs and fried rice?

We weren’t sure about it either.

But, even Tim (who can be a bit picky about his sweet and savory combos) had to agree that these combos were on to something.

So, if you like ketchup, you need to give this banana ketchup a try.

Use it on your eggs, your rice, or even your fries.

As strange as it seems, this works. It really works!

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (4)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Filipino Banana Ketchup

While it may sound odd, Filipino Banana Ketchup is a delicious condiment that is sweet and tangy, and remarkably similar to tomato ketchup in flavor. Give it a try with this easy recipe. You might just forget there are bananas in there!

Yield: 1 ½ c banana ketchup

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time15 minutes mins

Total Time25 minutes mins

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: Filipino

Servings: 12 (2 Tbsp) servings

Author: Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • ½ small onion, diced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, chopped
  • 2 bananas, mashed (roughly 1 c)
  • ¼ c tomato paste
  • ¼ c brown sugar
  • ½ c white vinegar
  • ½ c water
  • tsp cayenne powder

Instructions

  • In a medium sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger. Sauté for 5 minutes, until soft and fragrant.

  • Add the mashed bananas, tomato paste, and brown sugar. Mix well.

  • Add the vinegar, water, and cayenne powder. Mix well and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened slightly.

  • Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Transfer the cooled mixture to the bowl of your food processor or blender. Blend until smooth.

If you liked this recipe, here are some similar dishes you may enjoy!

  • Whole Wheat Banana Bread Muffins
  • Healthy Rum Raisin Bread
  • Cà Phê Sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)
  • Slow Cooker Dublin Coddle
  • Bifana (Portuguese Marinated Pork Sandwich)
  • Ensalada Nochebuena (Mexican Christmas Eve Salad)
  • Greek-inspired Chicken Bake (and Demystifying Chicken Labels)
  • Beer and Cheddar Pull Apart Bread

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (13)

Sarah - Curious Cuisiniere

Sarah is one of Curious Cuisiniere’s founding duo. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.

www.curiouscuisiniere.com/about/

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere (2024)

FAQs

Filipino Banana Ketchup Recipe • Curious Cuisiniere? ›

A popular condiment in the Philippines, banana ketchup is a sauce made of vinegar, sugar, other spices, and, of course, bananas. Without the presence of tomatoes, it's both sweeter and less vinegar-heavy than standard ketchup.

Is it true that in the Philippines bananas are used to make ketchup? ›

A popular condiment in the Philippines, banana ketchup is a sauce made of vinegar, sugar, other spices, and, of course, bananas. Without the presence of tomatoes, it's both sweeter and less vinegar-heavy than standard ketchup.

What is the first brand of banana ketchup in the Philippines? ›

Mafran – NutriAsia. In 1942, Magdalo V. Francisco developed the revolutionary technology to mass-produce banana catsup commercially leading to the launch of Mafran as the first ever banana catsup brand in the Philippines.

What is the trivia about banana ketchup? ›

Its natural color is brownish-yellow but it is often dyed red to resemble tomato ketchup. Banana ketchup was first produced in the Philippines during World War II due to a wartime shortage of tomatoes but a comparatively high production of bananas.

What does Filipino banana ketchup taste like? ›

So how does it taste? Unsurprisingly, banana ketchup tastes very similar to tomato ketchup but a lot sweeter. The texture and flavor are both reminiscent of sweet and sour sauce. I tried both Jufran Brand Banana Sauce in original flavor and Hot and Spicy on hot dogs, french fries, and Filipino spaghetti.

Why do Filipinos love banana ketchup? ›

The flavor profile of the sauce, sweetish with a hint of spice and just a tad acidic, highly appeals to locals, sometimes even more than its tomato counterpart. This further proves just how much Filipinos love bananas, a key agricultural commodity of the country.

Does Filipino banana ketchup expire? ›

Keep banana ketchup as you would any ketchup. It's shelf-stable until you open it, and once the top is popped, store the bottle in a refrigerator. If you make your own banana ketchup, you will want to keep it in the fridge where it should last for months, all depending on how much vinegar used.

Does Jollibee use banana ketchup? ›

Jolly Spaghetti

It's because the sauce is made with banana ketchup. Yes, you read that correctly. Tomatoes aren't common in Southeast Asia, but bananas are everywhere, so Jollibee uses bananas, sugar, salt, and food dye to create its pasta sauce.

Why did Maria Orosa make banana ketchup? ›

Tomato ketchup is the norm in the rest of the world and before 1942, Filipinos preferred the taste of this condiment as well. However, tomatoes were expensive to import at the time, so Orosa made her own special kind of ketchup with bananas.

Why is Filipino spaghetti sweet? ›

This is sweetened with a bit of banana ketchup or brown sugar, and spiced to taste with salt and black pepper. Other common sweeteners include condensed milk, syrup, or even carbonated soft drinks. It is boiled until it reduces to the right consistency.

What is the real color of banana ketchup? ›

color, but it's dyed red to give it a ketchup. appearance. I first encountered banana ketchup in the Philippines.

Why is banana ketchup color red? ›

One day, she created a banana sauce with mashed bananas, vinegars, and spices. The brownish-yellow color was not very appetizing, so a little red dye was added, turning it to what is today known as banana ketchup.

Which is healthier banana ketchup or tomato ketchup? ›

Banana ketchup is a healthier alternative to traditional tomato ketchup. It has fewer calories and less sugar, as well as more vitamins and minerals. Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help lower cholesterol and promote digestive health.

Is Philippine banana healthy? ›

Benefits of Philippines Bananas: Nutrient-Rich: Bananas are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. They are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, dietary fiber, and antioxidants.

What are Filipino bananas called? ›

Except Cavendish banana, there are four main types of bananas grown widely in the Philippines: Lacatan, Latundan, Bungulan and the small Saba or Cardaba variety.

What is Philippine banana called? ›

The Latundan banana (also called Tundan, silk banana, Pisang raja sereh, Manzana banana, or apple banana) is a triploid hybrid banana cultivar of the AAB "Pome" group from the Philippines. It is one of the most common banana cultivars in Southeast Asia and the Philippines, along with Lacatan and Saba bananas.

Is there red bananas in Philippines? ›

There are different types of bananas grown widely in the Philippines, among them we can find the Red Bananas. In Mindanao this banana is called “Morado” which means purple in English.

Why banana is popular in the Philippines? ›

By itself, bananas are an important source of revenue for farmers; moreover, its byproducts constitute their own industry. Plus, it's a great-tasting and nutritious fruit. There are over 20 known varieties of bananas grown in the Philippines.

What is the origin of banana in the Philippines? ›

In general, however, it can be said that bananas originated in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific around 8,000 to 5,000 BCE. From New Guinea and the Philippines, bananas dispersed far and wide across the tropics, in all directions.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Last Updated:

Views: 6214

Rating: 5 / 5 (70 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: The Hon. Margery Christiansen

Birthday: 2000-07-07

Address: 5050 Breitenberg Knoll, New Robert, MI 45409

Phone: +2556892639372

Job: Investor Mining Engineer

Hobby: Sketching, Cosplaying, Glassblowing, Genealogy, Crocheting, Archery, Skateboarding

Introduction: My name is The Hon. Margery Christiansen, I am a bright, adorable, precious, inexpensive, gorgeous, comfortable, happy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.