What is Banana Ketchup?
Banana Ketchup is a popular Filipino condiment made primarily from mashed bananas, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Despite its vibrant red color, which mimics tomato ketchup, it contains no tomatoes and instead uses bananas as the base. The sauce is sweet, tangy, and slightly spiced, making it a versatile accompaniment to many Filipino dishes.
Origins & History:
Banana ketchup was invented during World War II by Filipino food technologist Maria Orosa as a resourceful solution to a tomato shortage in the Philippines. Since tomatoes were scarce, Orosa sought to create a ketchup-like condiment using the more readily available bananas. Her invention was a hit, becoming a staple in Filipino cuisine. Over time, commercial production made it widely accessible, and companies began adding food coloring to give it the familiar red hue of tomato ketchup.
Flavor Profile:
Sweet: The natural sweetness of bananas gives banana ketchup its characteristic sugary base, often enhanced with added sugar.
Tangy: Vinegar adds acidity, cutting through the sweetness and balancing the flavor.
Spiced: Various spices like cloves, allspice, or black pepper give it a subtle warmth, though it’s not typically spicy-hot.
Umami: Some versions incorporate soy sauce or fish sauce for an extra layer of savory umami.
Common Ingredients:
Ripe bananas (mashed)
Vinegar
Sugar
Salt
Garlic
Onion
Spices (like black pepper, allspice, cloves)
Food coloring - both natural and not
Uses of Banana Ketchup:
Banana ketchup is incredibly versatile and used much like tomato ketchup but with a sweeter twist. It complements both savory and fried dishes:
As a Dip: Served with fried chicken, French fries, spring rolls, and meat skewers.
On Burgers and Hotdogs: A sweet alternative to tomato ketchup, especially popular in Filipino fast food.
In Filipino Dishes: Essential in traditional Filipino recipes like Filipino-style spaghetti (a sweeter version of Italian spaghetti with banana ketchup and hotdogs) and torta (omelette-like dishes).
As a Glaze or Marinade: Used for barbecue meats and grilled dishes, lending a sweet and tangy flavor.
Popular Dishes with Banana Ketchup:
Filipino-Style Spaghetti: A uniquely sweet spaghetti made with banana ketchup, ground meat, hotdogs, and cheese.
Tocino (Sweet Cured Pork): Banana ketchup is sometimes used as a glaze for this beloved Filipino dish.
Barbecue: Banana ketchup is used in marinades for pork or chicken skewers, adding a caramelized sweetness when grilled.
