While eating unripe, green bananas may seem strange to many, it is actually a common ingredient used in many parts of the world. Green banana recipes are especially popular in Jamaica, India, and Columbia where green bananas are easy to access and incorporate into daily meals.
You can use green bananas to make savory or sweet dishes as they are very easy to cook and complement various other ingredients. They are popular as a side dish and are often fried or made into rich curries. If you’ve never cooked with green bananas, these green banana recipes will help you experiment with some deliciously unique dishes.
#1. Guineitos
Guineitos is a savory side dish made with green bananas, peppers, and onions along with a few seasonings. This is most commonly served alongside meat and can be dressed up or down with your favorite spices. Crushed garlic and fruit vinegar add wonderful flavors to this dish, making it perfect to accompany your dinner or lunch.
#2. Green Banana Mash
This green banana mash is a simple dish made by boiling green bananas and mashing them along with spices. Thyme, onions, cumin, and pepper are the dominating flavors in this mash, but you could easily use what you have on hand. Dairy-free butter and almond milk help to make this mash beautifully creamy and entirely dairy-free.
#3. Guineos En Escabeche
Guineos en escabeche is a pickled green banana dish often served as a flavorful and bright side dish. This classic Puerto Rican dish is made by boiling green bananas in a quick pickle solution and leaving them to marinate for at least 4 hours. Sauteed onions, garlic, and spices flavor the pickles and make all the flavors stand out!
#4. Raw Banana Fry
Green banana slices are seasoned with fiery spices like green chili, garlic, and cumin to make a flavor-packed side dish. They are easy to cook and can be served in under 25 minutes for a quick and simple side dish. You can use whatever spices you have on hand and change the measurements to suit your taste.
#5. Boiled Green Bananas
Boiled green bananas are a simple dish that you can either dress up or down, depending on how much time you have. All that required is salt and water for your green bananas, and they can be done within 20 minutes! You can serve them up with a variety of sides or main dishes for lunch or dinner.
#6. Green Banana Curry
Green banana curry is a fun twist on traditional curry as it uses green bananas as the main ingredient. Peppers, garlic, coconut milk, turmeric, and green bananas dominate this dish, making it rich and full of spicy flavor. You can easily add more vegetables to this dish or reduce the spices to suit your taste.
#7. Green Banana Latkes
This recipe uses green bananas instead of potatoes, which puts a delicious spin on the classic latkes. These green banana latkes are rich and crispy and can be flavored any way you like. All you need are some green bananas, an egg, oil, and salt to whip up these crispy latkes. Serve them with spiced applesauce for a delectable combination.
#8. Green Banana Porridge
Green banana porridge is a comforting Jamaican dish that you can make for a filling breakfast or as a midday snack. Coconut milk, almond milk, and sweetened condensed milk help to make this porridge creamy and rich. You could use the traditional spices in the recipe or just what you have on hand; either way, it will be delicious.
#9. Rose’s Green Banana Stew
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly, this green banana stew is rich and comforting. It includes ingredients like green bananas, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and curry powder. The flavors are rich and comforting, though you can easily add more vegetables and reduce the number of spices according to what you have on hand.
#10. Green Banana Breakfast Fry-Up
This breakfast puts green bananas front and center and pairs them with bacon, mushrooms, eggs, and tomatoes for a delicious combination. You can also add cabbage or kale for a burst of color to your fry-up. All you have to do is fry everything together, creating an easy breakfast option in under 20 minutes.
#11. Green Banana Soup
Make this creamy green banana soup for a nutritious and delicious quick meal. Green bananas are the star of this dish, while cheese and milk form the base ingredients along with plenty of fresh garlic and onions for a bold and savory flavor. The recipe calls for cilantro, but you can also add other herbs and seasonings that you enjoy to spice up this dish.
#12. Raw Banana Fry
This recipe features raw bananas coated in a variety of spices and rice flour and fried to crispy perfection. The bananas are marinated to create a more flavorful dish and can be served as a side with any meal. If you are not a fan of spice, you can always cut down on the spices to make a simpler version.
#13. Green Banana Bread
A unique twist on traditional banana bread, this recipe uses green bananas instead of fully ripe bananas. It is a healthier option as it uses green banana flour, hazelnut flour, a sugar-free sweetener, and olive oil, but it tastes just as good! This is a simple yet tasty recipe that’s perfect to have as a snack or for breakfast.
#14. Green Banana Chips
If you want a crispy snack to munch on, you have to try this green banana chips recipe. Monk fruit sweetener and cinnamon make these banana chips sweet, but you could also make them savory. Spices like garlic powder, cumin, and turmeric would all be great options for savory chips.
#15. Green Banana Run Down
This dish features green bananas simmered in a sauce of onions, garlic, ginger, tomato, and coconut milk. The bananas are cooked to be perfectly soft as they soak up all of that savory flavor. You can add extra seasonings if you like, according to what you have in your kitchen. It makes for a perfect side dish or even a main meal.
