Categorized | Fish, Vegetarian
A Tasty Caribbean Recipe Using Green Bananas.
Posted on 13 October 2011
This recipe is a combination of many things. It’s a take on a recipe my mom would make but instead of using canned salmon as I did, she would normally use pieces of salted cod. Then about a year ago I saw Levis Roots of “Reggae Reggae Sauce” sauce fame cook up a batch of this with the help of some kids… if you’re from the UK and watch the Dragon’s Den you’ll know who I mean. I think he also calls himself the “Dragon Slayer”! But he used fresh caught mackerel in his dish.
Knowing that I had green fig (bananas) in the fridge, I had a severe craving for this sort of “country” dish about 8 pm last night. With no salted fish in the fridge, nor mackerel… the wheels of creativity went spinning and I decided on using the canned salmon that peeked at me from behind the can of corned beef in the cupboard (Mr. Salmon learned not to play hide and seek with a grown man). There’s no better motivation in the kitchen than a craving and hunger!
You’ll Need…
5-7 green bananas (known as green fig or cooking bananas in the Caribbean)
1/2 teaspoon salt (for boiling the green bananas)
1 medium tomato
1 medium onion
1 scallion (green onion / spring onion)
1 clove garlic
1/4 habanero pepper (scotch bonnet or any hot pepper you like)
1 tablespoon ketchup
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon olive oil (any cooking oil you like)
1 sprig thyme (dash dried thyme)
Salt – optional (add as needed)
1 can pink salmon
Note: If you’re shopping for green bananas in North America, they will be called cooking bananas. If you can’t find them in your grocery store, do ask a clerk and don’t buy ordinary bananas that are not ripe yet. You’re looking for ones that are really firm, brilliant green in color and no blemishes. If you’re peeling these as I did before boiling, do wear gloves or coat your hands with cooking oil to prevent the sort of ‘milk’ to cause your hands to be sticky and possibly itch. Don’t get that ‘milk’ (sap) onto your clothes.
Since the green fig will require the most time to cook, go ahead and peel, scrape and rinse them. You can also cook them in the skin and peel after they’ve been boiled. In a deep pot put enough water to cover the bananas and bring to a boil. Then add the bananas and salt.. bring back to a rolling boil and allow to cook for about 20 minutes.
While this cooks, lets prepare the other ingredients. Wash and chop the tomato, scallion, habanero pepper, thyme.. don’t forget the garlic and onion as well.
With the bananas fully cooked, drain and allow to cool while we get things really started. In a large saucepan put the olive oil to heat on a medium heat, then add the onion, garlic and thyme. Let them cook on the medium/low heat for about 3-5 minutes. We’re trying to get the onion translucent and release the rich flavors of the garlic and thyme. Next add the green onion, pepper, tomato and black pepper. Let that cook for about 3 minutes.
The next step is to add the can of salmon, including the water it was packaged in and ketchup. Break it up into flaky chunks, give it a good stir and allow to come back up to a gentle simmer… cook for another couple minutes.
While this cooks, the bananas should be cool enough to touch. Cut them into bite-sized pieces and get ready to toss them into the pot.
The final step is to toss in the cut pieces of cooked bananas into the pot, give it a good stir and allow it to heat through with all the other ingredients in the pot (about -35 minutes) and you’re done.
Since the canned salmon is usually packaged with a ton of sodium I don’t feel the need to add any salt, but do taste ad add accordingly as I’m sure your tolerance for salt will be different than mine.
This is one of those versatile dishes that works for any time of the day (or night as in my case)… even breakfast. Growing up on the islands you know we love our BIG breakfast, so though you may find this a bit heavy to start the day.. a Caribbean man would appreciate this (hint ladies). BTW, there’s enough here for 3-4 people if you have some coconut bake or toast on the side or a complete meal for two people.
To make this dish fully vegetarian, you can omit the canned fish, but add a little butter when cooking the onion and garlic at the start.
Before you go I invite you to leave me your comments below.. even if it just to say hello. It’s always appreciated. And don’t forget to join us on facebook and do check out the cooking videos.
Happy Cooking!
Chris…
39 Responses to “A Tasty Caribbean Recipe Using Green Bananas.”
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I really enjoy green figs ( the younger the better for me) wondering though if i would like the salmon or maybe i would try it with salt fish!!!! and when last have u had boiled chiquito figs full -or just turning as they say here!!!! That may taste good as well, the slight sweetness of the figs with the salted salmon/salt fish.
Keep up the great work Chris really look forward to your recipes!!!!!
Mmmmmmm, sounds good, ive recently stopped eating meat so, sounds like a quick healthy breakfast/lunch/dinner.. Thanks!
Lawd, mekking me feel hungry!!!!
Are Green Figs like Plantains?
No, green figs are just unripened bananas. However they may be a different variety banana than what you'd get ripe in the grocery stores in North America. That said.. the ones I got were "Dole" so you can always ask you grocer if they stock Dole cooking bananas.
I think plantains and cooking bananas are the same, Chris. So, green figs would be green plantains. At least I bought plantains to cook when living in the US, and I'm from the Caribbean too.
Continued: OK, I just found this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantain
Plantains and green bananas are very different!! Even though Wiki says they are the same! (Wikipedia is not a peer-reviewed source by the way). The taste, look and feel very very different….
Chris, green fig salad is one of my favorite dishes in the whole wide world!!! I've never seen it in any recipe book ever! Thanks for recognizing some of the world's best unnoticed foods…
They are two different things. The don't differ botanically but they have two different tastes, size and texture.
Exactly, … normally you would lightly brown plantain … you can serve them as a side with breakfast or dinner … Green banana is a totally diffrent thing …and unless you boil them … I don't know what else you could do … unless you fry them like the spanish in thin slices and lightly salt them.
Hi Lilian, plantaian and bananas are the same family but not by the same thing. Green plantain is unripe plantain. Green fig is unripe ang immature green banana. All the best, Jennifer
Hi Chris, love this recipe .Have you ever tried green fig salad instead of potato salad.
Yummy, all the same.
Not sure where I can find Green Figs. I'll ask the same question as RonBoyd, are they like Plantains? Those we have in the stores. This looks so good. I usually don't like canned salmon but look forward to trying this if I can find the figs.
Try any large grocery store chain, West Indian super markets or Asian markets. Aks for green fig, green banana or cooking banana.
I would love to get green bananas over here (Sweden) but there is none. But I bought som nice salt fish last time I went to the UK, so maybe I'll do with some plantains instead of the figs
and try this dish out anyway. As you say, hunger and craving is the best motivation in the kitchen! 
THANKS CRIS I WANT TO LEARN MORE CARIBBEAN DISH
I just tried that recipe and ended up using a tin Tuna instead of salmon…lol but it came out good still.
LOVE, Love, love your recipie. Can't wait too try it.
Thank you!
Mmmmmmmm,sounds good! Ive recently stopped eating meat so, this sounds like a quick nutritious breakfast/lunch/dinner.. I will be trying it out very soon! Thanks!!
Cant wait to try it. My hubby is from Dominica & does not of the cooking, but I want to surprise him.
Great recipe !!! I couldn´t find canned salmon, so I cooked a piece of salmon with a little oil and salt, shereded it and it worked beautifuly!
this looks so delicious, but I want to try it with salted fish,your recipes are always so interesting, but can you post a recipe for a ' plain sponge' cake please
thank you
God bless
This makes me think of boiled and fried green plantains.
Great recipe! Have you ever tried it with various vegetables as a vegetarian dish, it looks just as it tastes.
This looks lovely especially at it combines tinned fish with grreen banana….wed lunch here I come!
Could this be used with tinned mackerel?
Hi Chris, I just have a question about green bananas~are the also known as a plaintain?
No, plantains are different. Much bigger in size and a bit different in taste. These are commonly known as cooking bananas (green fig)
Lol, first time doing a meal like this. I didn't have the green fig or the salmon so I used Irish/English potato and canned tuna, mmmmmm. Thanks again Chris.
Chris I am making this right now and can't wait to eat it. Thanks for all the delicious recipes!
Takes me right back to my childhood. Yummy!
Just tried your recipe. Great! Used small very green cooking bananas. Had no ketchup so used about a tsp or two of tomato paste. Had no chili peppers so used chili powder and a bit of bottled picant sauce. Substituted leeks for green onion. Happened to have bought pre-cooked salt cod the day before so I shredded it (to make sure there were no bones) and voila! Delicious! Just finished eating it. Husband loved it too! (I did add a couple of teaspoons of water toward the end to make sure the dish didn´t dry out.) Looking forward to more of your recipes!
So glad I found you. While eating my cabbage fry (good but not great), I remembered eating a heavenly Jamaican cabbage dish, began Googling and voila, here you are. The heart you put into your cooking is obvious. I hope your life and cooking are always filled up with love.
Will definite try this both ways – with the canned salmon and with the salt fish
hi Chris, I love your coconut shrimp and mango sauce recipe. Can't wait to try. keep up the excellent work. Love Yah!!!!
Always love green figs. Now my mouth is just watering reading this recipe. Thank you Chris. Will cook this today in the USA we have lots of green figs ( Trini).
like this
About to make ths without the fish.
I finished coking it, and it is awesome!! I used anchovy in place of salmon, and it came out pretty well. Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Chris,
Oh my lawd!! So glad I stumbled on this website, because I was searching for a recipe to make a dish with green bananas. Trying to change my eating habits; this is a first in the process. I love everything I have seen. I am from the islands too, but I don't know how to cook that way. Been in the USA too long.
Lee[ up the good work.