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)

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4.62 from 44 votes

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!

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  • Ham Strata
  • Blaukraut (German Braised Red Cabbage)
  • Venezuelan Chocolate Marquesa
  • Wiener Apfelstrudel (Viennese Apple Strudel)

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

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 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.

Why is Filipino ketchup sweet? ›

This sweet and tangy condiment is made from mashed bananas, vinegar, sugar, and spices and is used to add flavour to a variety of dishes. Despite its name, banana ketchup does not taste like traditional ketchup made from tomatoes.

What are the ingredients in UFC banana ketchup? ›

Used as a cooking ingredient or dipping sauce. Ingredients: water, sugar, banana, modified starch (corn), vinegar, iodized salt (salt, potassium iodate), onion, chilli, garlic, sodium benzoate e211, colour e102, e129.

Who invented banana ketchup in the Philippines? ›

Its creator, Maria Orosa, was an innovative food scientist and Filipino nationalist who pioneered methods of canning and preserving native fruits, intent on making her country self-sufficient in food production.

What country invented banana ketchup? ›

Food technologist Maria Ylagan Orosa is credited with inventing banana ketchup. During the 1930s, Orosa dedicated herself to bolstering the Philippines by working to create dishes that could replace popular imported foods.

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.

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.

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.

Why do Filipinos put ketchup in spaghetti? ›

It's said that while in Japan, the general enjoyed spaghetti Neapolitan, a Japanese-style dish that uses ketchup as the base for the sauce. Upon relocating to the Philippines, the general continued to crave the sweet spaghetti, and his staff recreated it with the banana ketchup that, by then, was commonly available.

Why do Filipinos eat spaghetti? ›

Filipino spaghetti has great cultural significance for Filipinos as a comfort food. It is almost always served on special occasions, especially on children's birthdays. As such, most Filipinos attach a nostalgic fondness to the dish. Filipino spaghetti is a unique offering of fast food chains in the Philippines.

What are the famous Filipino condiments? ›

  • Sawsawan, or Filipino Dipping Sauces. Sawsawan is not one particular dipping sauce in the Philippines. ...
  • Buro Sauce. Buro is one of the top Philippine condiments for adding flavor to vegetables or fried foods. ...
  • Atchara. ...
  • Banana Ketchup. ...
  • Suka (Vinegar) ...
  • Anchovy Sauce/Shrimp Paste (Bagoong) ...
  • Lechon Sauce (Sarsa) ...
  • Toyomansi.
Sep 26, 2022

Is banana ketchup high in sugar? ›

Condiments, including banana ketchup, contain high amounts of sugar. Only 1 tbsp of banana ketchup has almost 20% of the daily added sugar limits recommended by The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (for a person who consumes 2,000 calories). Added sugar intake should be limited to 10% of total daily calories.

How did they make banana ketchup? ›

Banana ketchup (or catsup) is made with puréed banana and seasoned with salt, sugar, garlic, onions, and spices. The sweet, savory, and tangy condiment often includes red artificial food coloring so it resembles tomato ketchup.

Does banana ketchup taste like banana? ›

What Does Banana Ketchup Taste Like? Think of basic ketchup, then add a sweet tang to it, and you have banana ketchup. Due to the vinegar and spices, this item tastes a lot like the food it was meant to replace, but the tropical fruit aspect gives it a layer of juicy sweetness.

What is the use of banana in the Philippines? ›

Fresh and Raw: The simplest way to enjoy a Philippines banana is by peeling it and eating it raw. They make a convenient and nutritious snack on their own or can be added to fruit salads, yogurt, or smoothies. Baked Goods: Bananas are commonly used in baking.

Why is Philippines famous for banana? ›

The Philippines is the second major exporter of bananas in the world. That alone is enough to tell you about the significant role the fruit plays in the country's economy. By itself, bananas are an important source of revenue for farmers; moreover, its byproducts constitute their own industry.

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.

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.

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