If Tomato Ketchup is your all-time favourite dip, then you need to know that there exists a condiment very similar in taste, called Banana Ketchup.
Even if you haven’t tasted them, you must have heard about a number of different sauces like Tomato Sauce, Mustard Sauce, Chilli Sauce, Marinara Sauce, Pesto Sauce, Barbeque Sauce, etc, but have you ever heard about this unique Banana Sauce?
Banana Ketchup is an important part of Filipino cuisine and a staple food item of Filipino households. Read on to know about its history and how this ketchup is made.
Banana ketchup
Made with ingredients like mashed bananas, vinegar, sugar, and spices, Banana Ketchup has struck such a perfect balance between flavours like sweet and tangy that it is touted to be the perfect replacement for Tomato Ketchup. With its bright yellow colour, Banana Ketchup is such a lip-smacking condiment that it pairs well with a variety of dishes like French Fries, Fish & Chips, Fried Chicken and more. Apart from usage as a dip, Banana Ketchup can be used as a marinade for meat dishes, as it helps in adding the perfect tangy-sweet flavour to the dish.
Historical connection
Do you know that the invention of Banana Ketchup actually happened due to the shortage of tomatoes? The origins of banana ketchup can be traced back to the Philippines during World War II, when there was a shortage of Tomato Ketchup due to the lack of tomatoes. In order to meet the demand for ketchup, people started experimenting with other ingredients and Banana Ketchup is something they found to be the best replacement for Tomato Ketchup. This is how Filipinos created their own unique condiment using bananas, which were available in abundance in that area.
How to make it
Fascinated by Banana Ketchup? Here is an easy recipe that you can try and make your own Banana Ketchup at home with just a handful of common kitchen ingredients.
Ingredients required- 4 bananas, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup white vinegar, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1 tbsp ginger paste, ¼ tsp cinnamon powder, ¼ tsp black pepper powder and ¼ tsp salt.
1. Peel the ripe bananas and add them to a bowl. Use a fork and mash them till they convert into a paste.
2. Take a pan and keep it on low heat. Add the mashed banana paste, white vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, ginger paste, cinnamon powder, black pepper powder and salt.
3. Whisk well and cook the mixture on medium heat.
4. Once it comes to a bowl, reduce the heat and let it cook for about 16-18 minutes. Keep stirring in between.
5. Once it attains a glossy, ketchup-like consistency, remove the pan from heat and let the sauce cook down completely.
6. Transfer the ketchup to a blender and blend it until smooth.
7. Now transfer the sauce to a bottle and secure the lid.
You can store this Banana Ketchup in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
