Are you ready for your mind to be blown? Yes? Then check out this recipe for vegan pulled pork sandwiches using banana peels! Don’t believe it? Well, I didn’t either until I tried it and I can tell you that it’s actually really good!
It turns out that Venezuelan and Brazilian vegans have been keeping a big secret from us. They’ve been using plantain and banana peels to veganize their recipes for years and they didn't bother to tell us about it.
In Venezuela, they use plantain peels to make a veggie version of carne mechada. This is a kind of shredded beef that sort of resembles pulled pork. (Yes, they eat peels due to scarcity but it was in a vegan group that a Venezuelan person first told me that it's a good alternative for vegan people).
To veganize carne mechada, they first boil plantain peels then shred them with a fork. Some recipes marinate the peels in soy sauce and spices before frying them up with onion and tomato.
In Brazil it gets even better. They have a sort of pulled beef sandwich called carne louca ("crazy meat") which really resembles a pulled pork sandwich.
The vegans and vegetarians of that country figured out years ago that you can "pull" a banana peel and use it as a veggie replacement in that sandwich, renaming it casca louca ("crazy peels"). (I mean seriously, why didn't they tell us???).
To make it, banana peels are scraped clean, "pulled" and then sauteed with onion, garlic, bell pepper, tomato sauce and water. The mix is then stuffed into a baguette-like bun. Check out this video from 2016 to watch him make it.
So what happens when you simply replace the tomato sauce with barbecue sauce and the bell peppers with coleslaw? You've got a banana peel pulled pork sandwich!
[Fun fact: in Brazil they're doing all sorts of crazy things with banana peels. Check out these banana peel meatballs, these banana peel burgers, and this banana peel steak (excuse me, whaaat?!?!)].
I was super sceptical about the whole eating peels thing at first but brave enough to try it for you. Turns out it works!
Now, you are probably just as sceptical as I was about banana peels so let me put your mind at rest: no, they are not bitter and no it doesn’t taste like banana. The trick is to choose bananas that are yellow yet slightly underripe as the peels are firmer and thicker, and scrape out the white skin part from the inside.
And don't worry, banana peels are perfectly edible. You can google that.
In developing this recipe I wanted to test out both plantain and banana peels. I prefer the banana peels, they’re softer, easier to work with and cook more quickly.
Of course you should choose organic bananas for this and be sure to wash them really well. If you want you can soak the bananas in a water-vinegar solution to try to get them as clean as possible before starting.
[If you're worried about pesticide residue, Brazil has already answered that question for you here (let google translate the page for you)].
Once you’ve cleaned the peels, simply shred them with a fork. I first tested this recipe the Brazilian way by simply frying the shredded peels in barbecue sauce but I felt that it needed a little something extra.
So I adapted the Venezuelan technique of adding spices beforehand and I mixed together a quick pulled pork-style spice mix to marinate the peels in it while I prepared my vegan coleslaw.
The smoked paprika gives the peels an extra smokiness (obviously) and the chili powder gives it a nice kick but feel free to adapt the spice mix to your own preference.
Once your coleslaw is done the only thing left to do is cook the shredded banana peels. Simply toss them in a pan and add a few splashes of water to help them steam and tenderize.
They don’t take too long to cook but the cooking time is variable depending on how ripe your bananas are. The riper they are the faster they cook so you should taste them after a couple of minutes to see where they are.
You do not want to undercook them or else you won’t be able to bite through your sandwich and that’s unpleasant. You don’t want to overcook them either or they will start to turn to mush so be careful. Generally speaking they’ll need about five to ten minutes.
Once you’re happy with the texture, add a dollop of your favourite vegan barbecue sauce and give it just another minute to incorporate the flavours before taking it off the heat.
Give it one more minute to cool before piling it onto your bun and topping with your vegan coleslaw. That’s it! Who knew that something so delicious could be made from something that we normally throw away?!?!
Wanna see how to make this Banana Peel Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich? Watch the video and share it on Facebook (read the comments tho, lol!):
Update 05/03/2019: This recipe has been up for a few weeks now and I've gotten a lot of feedback. Of the people who've tried it, the vast majority have enjoyed it!
Feel free to scroll down to the comments below or to read the comments on our facebook video, the link is above (many readers have shared their own photos of the dish).
I do not delete negative comments so you'll find some of those as well. Not everyone's going to like everything and that's ok.
Banana peel pulled pork has also made it onto the menus of several restaurants in places a far-flung as Hawaii, Malta and New Zealand thanks to this recipe!
I just want to emphasize the importance of following the recipe. There have been a few youtubers trying to ride the coattails of the virality of this recipe by making videos that shit-talk the recipe from the very beginning before even tasting it.
In each case they made mistakes by either using green bananas, not cooking them with water or for long enough, or omiting the bbq sauce.
Anytime something gets popular there's going to be people who will want to destroy it in order to take a little piece of the attention for themselves, am I right?
I understand that most people have not cooked banana peels before so this recipe might be a bit tricky the first time to figure out when they are cooked correctly.
It took me several attempts to figure it out and I've tried to write the recipe as clearly as possible for you. There's also a lot of information in the post above so it's a good idea to read it through as well.
If anything is still unclear, do let me know in the comments below and I will be along to answer them shortly.
** People with a latex allergy can also have a reaction to bananas. Don't try to secretly feed this to someone unless you're sure they're not allergic!**
Banana Peel Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 medium organic bananas YELLOW, firm and not quite ripe (mine still had tinges of green around the stem and bottom) *SEE NOTE AT BOTTOM OF RECIPE
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- A few splashes of water
- 2 tablespoons vegan barbecue sauce
- A pinch of salt
- Vegan coleslaw
- 1 bun
Instructions
- Wash the bananas well.
- Slice the top and bottom off the bananas remove the peels. Scrape the white part off the inside of the peels with a spoon.
- Shred the peels with a fork and cut them into 2 to 3 inch-long pieces. Transfer to a bowl and add the olive oil, paprika, chili powder, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and cumin. (It's important not to add salt yet, I found they got super salty if I added it now). Mix well and set aside to marinate while you prepare your coleslaw.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the shredded banana peels. Add a small splash of water to help them steam and tenderize.
- The cooking time will depend on how ripe your bananas are (the riper they are the faster they cook) so start tasting after a couple of minutes. It’s important that they are tender enough to bite through but not so overcooked that they turn to mush. They should be done in around 5 - 10 minutes more or less. Add another splash of water and keep cooking if the pan goes dry before they are tender.
- Add the barbecue sauce and give them another 30 seconds to a minute more to incorporate the flavour. Add a pinch of salt to taste. Remove from the heat and let cool for a minute.
- Pile the banana peels on your bun and top with your coleslaw. Serve immediately.
Notes
[Editor's note: this post has been revised from an earlier version in response to a serious trolling incident that took place on Buzzfeed's video for this recipe (the troll was identified and the accounts were deactivated). I do not tolerate bullying and I choose to not promote, credit or mention anyone in this blogpost who engages in such malicious behavour.]
My cookbook 30-Minute Frugal Vegan Recipes is now available for pre-order! (No banana peels, promise). Find out what's inside!
Meat Eater says
If it's not pulled pork, don't call it pulled pork. Call it what it is.
Meat Eaters Suck says
Sure when you start calling Bacon what it is, Cured Dead Pig.
Sonya says
So when are we gonna start calling salads chopped dead plant?
Norah Hudson says
When they have a nervous system- sentient beings are not there for your selfish tastebuds .... numbskull
Kenya says
❤️👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Nicole says
If you cannot tell the difference between a plant and an animal, there may be no help for you.
Sophia says
Love that response haha haha !!!
Ana says
I am a meat eater as of now, not too much. But I don't suck, thank you. The original "Meat Eater" who commented on this recipe was just expressing their opinion, they sound frustrated, to be honest. As a current omnivore trying to transition to a full plant based diet, it's disheartening to see how vindictive "vegans" can also be. I think the best response to negativity is to ignore them, as they are most likely typing inflammatory comments to incite a barrage of responses. That, or they're just expressing their annoyed opinions, as we are all entitled to do in a democracy. Either way, I personally searched for "banana peel jerky recipe" and found this recipe. Thank you to the recipe maker, I shall try it for our family!
Noname says
I hate when people say how vegans are mean. All this person wanted to do was post a recipe and one person (meat eater) posted a negative comment so another person (vegan) posted a negative comment after. But the vegan person gets called mean when the meat eater started it, that makes total sense.
Jen says
Exactly.
christine says
Why are you here exactly? No friends or anything better to do? Go destroy your health and the environment elsewhere. You must live a sad sad life.
Rachel says
To be honest I was kind of sceptical when I saw your video on facebook. As a vegetarian trying to reduce my waste i was very excited to try this! We eat lots of bananas at our house and always have so many peels! (Sometimes too lazy to try to compost them) *I did not use the recipe just used some BBQ in the fridge! We had some for breakfast after making banana pancakes. Thank you so much for willing to put out a recipe that is different! I am NOT a fan of jackfruit so this is the perfect alternitive for us. (:
VEGGIEIB says
That's right, you tell em!
Elizabeth says
The reason vegans still label their recipes this way is that is what people enter when they search. No one would search for pulled banana peel sandwich.
VEGGIEIB says
We may start searching for pulled banana peel sandwich 😂👍😋
Me says
That’s what I did to find this 😂🤷♀️
Kit says
Me too!
Kris says
Same here! Lol
Ciera says
How long will it keep? Should it be refrigerated if you make lots/ have extra? Also I’m about to make this, as a teen vegan I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes (since I’m a lazy cook haha) can’t wait to try it!
Melissa says
If they're cooked they should be refrigerated in an air-tight container and eaten within a couple of days. Some people like to marinate the shredded uncooked peels in bbq sauce overnight so you could also do that if you happen to have a lot of peels at once.
PeelEater says
Ha! I actually found this by searching for "banana peel recipes" 🤷♀️
Lila says
That’s exactly what I searched…
Jana Pinheiro says
Dear meat eater, a pig in a blanket is not a pig in a blanket, a toad in a hole is not a toad in a hole and a millionaire's shortbread is just a biscuit, not short, not a bread and definitely, not a millionaire, and the list goes on. We all appreciate the freedom we all have to name our foods as we see fit, won't you agree?
Kev Spicer says
Ha ha ha. Nice one Jana 👍 I think maybe these animal eaters come up with ‘softie’ names like ‘pigs in blankets’ to make it sound more ‘adorable’ and cover their conscience ( of which few animal eaters have any ). Has anyone actually ever seen ‘a pig in a blanket’ ? I think not ! Why do they not call it what it actually is ? ‘Dead animal wrapped in dead animal’ ? Bunch of hypocrites !
EvilVegan says
“Meat eater”, try evolving, it’s painless.
Laz says
Ooooh we got an edgy one here...
Hailey says
Hey, hey now.. biscuits aren't dead animals. It's dead pig wrapped in flaky bread.
Tania says
Wow! Very thankful you posted such a unique and successful recipe. But I’m very sorry that so many ignorant people come on here to post absurd comments. Some people get it, others don’t, focus on those who are on the same cruel free path you’re on. I’m pretty sure we’ll be cooking for their kids one day 😉 as their children will be stealing our kid’s lunches because they’re so appealing and delicious.
Lorrie Para says
I am a meat eater but I also eat other foods and this looks like something I'm willing to dry..... At least once since I have an abundance of banana peels right now
Tofu Cat says
It's vegan pulled pork. Calling it what I is.
Brian M says
Never use teflon
Purple People Eater says
PFOA hasnt been used in teflon since 2013
Tania Erbetta says
Wow 🤩 delicious 😋 make lots of banana ice cream so always have loads of peel. Absolutely love this on raw vegan onion flat breads. Crazy good !
Jolli says
Referring to it as “pulled pork” is useful when people are trying to find non meat versions. It’s really no big deal, unless you are an easily offended snowflake.
I am going to try this recipe out this week, and I’m hoping it’s just as awesome as carrot “hot dogs”! Thanks for sharing this!
VEGGIEIB says
Great! I'm intrigued.
Rebecca says
And let's just point out that "hot dogs" aren't made from dogs, either. Must be incredibly confusing to people who actually eat dog meat!! 😛
Will definitely try this recipe!
Isabelle says
How long do the ingredients keep (both cooked and uncooked) I was hoping to try this recipe on a camping trip this weekend, but I want to make everything ahead of time and I'm wondering if that's possible
The Stingy Vegan says
This recipe is such a new idea that I don't yet have a good answer for your questions. People have kept the raw peels frozen and say that it works but that's not a possibility for you if you're camping. I'm not sure if a cooler would keep them frozen. Peels do oxidize and will turn brown once their off the banana but since they're covered in sauce maybe it's not much of an issue? I think your best option would be to cook them ahead and store them in the fridge in an airtight container then pop them in the cooler to transport. Be really careful not to overcook them since you'll be reheating them later and they can go mushy if they're overdone. Hope that helps and let me know if it worked out for you so that I can better answer future questions!
Lilianna says
i kept my peels in the fridge for a day, they were fine.
PeelEater says
Im so happy to find this recipe. I recently stayed making tea with banana peels and incorporating them into smoothies for the free added health benefits.
I can't wait to experiment more with banana peels!
Not at meat-eating troll says
Were they raw or had you prepared them? We are big on leftovers and batch cooking over here.
Danneauxs says
Exactly. I am not a vegan, judt trying to go plant based as much as possible. The title is important for those looking for alternatives to KNOWN meat dishes. Also, meateater is just stirring up trouble and wants attention. Lets talk sround this person rather than directly to as that will be very aggravating.
Carolyn | The Organic Gypsy says
Ooooh!!! Now this is something I would love to try out! Skeptical? Big yes!! Intrigued? Defos. Can’t wait to try this. It looks amazing. What a great way to use up your banana peels! I am all for it! X
Robe says
Made this last night and was blown away!!!
Texture was spot on. Thank you soo much for sharing!
Me says
"Texture was spot on"....like pulled pork?
Steve says
I'm gonna try this. ... Am a bit perturbed however by the need to identify non meat ideas in terms of meat..... Why not pulled banana peel..?
Becki says
What a weird comment!! For the same reason people call hot dogs, hot dogs or oat milk milk. does it matter? It helps identify the taste they were going for. that's very useful! I'd never think to google banana peel recipes....
Christine McNeile says
I made this recipe! My banana peel/pulled pork sandwich turned out great. I will state that I needed more than 1 banana peel per sandwich. I seasoned my peels while cooking and added homemade bbq sauce at that time too. Will definitely make this again!
Christine McNeile says
I made this recipe! It turned out great. I will say I needed 3 peels for 1 large sandwich. I will definitely make banana peel/pulled “pork” sandwiches again!
VEGGIEIB says
WOWSA! I'm going to try it also. Did you do anything differently from the recipe?
Berni says
Meat eater try evolving, pulled dead pig, vegans saving the environment etc, or chopped dead salad.
I thought I was looking at a very unusual and interesting recipe which I must try good or bad ill give it ago, why not.
But I was even more surprised by the reactions of some people. On one level its really quite funny, I suppose that's just me, but on both sides of the argument I find it amazing and entertaining how people react with one another. Great decision not to delete any negative feedback as its a nice reminder of how nutty and individual we all are.
Take care everyone, I hope you all have a nice day or night wherever you are in the world. Try not to be to angry with one another, while it makes me laugh, I don't want to see anyone getting ill
Linda Sidowski says
I am intrigued! I can't wait to give this a try!!! Thank you!
Lori Parker says
Did you know that the white pith of the banana peel is high in both potassium and lutein, a powerful antioxidant that protects the eye from free radicals and harmful frequencies of UV radiation from the sun. Lutein has been proven to reduce the risks of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in “Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition.” So DON'T discard that white pith when you scrape it off the inside of the peel. Mix it into a cold glass of Flax Milk, add it to your homemade banana no churn ice cream. or just pop the spoon into your mouth while you scrape the peels for this delicious pulled pork style sandwich. Here's an interesting fact I just learned: According to LivingStrong.com, " . . . eating two banana skins a day for three days increased blood serotonin levels by 16 percent. " Serotonin is the neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for balancing mood and emotions. That's good news for folks like me who deal with depression. Last but not least, banana peels are also rich sources of potassium and contain much more soluble and insoluble fiber than their flesh. Dietary fiber promotes digestion and bowel movements and can reduce blood cholesterol levels. Ah, banana peels: they let us slip into healthier and happier lives! -PEACE-
JT says
Your response is golden. Thank you for commenting!
Lest says
I read a long time ago that the great apes peel bananas from opposite end than we do, then eat the peels and throw away the insides. I cannot verify if this is true, but if so, it sounds like they are smarter than people in this instance.
Turk Trautvetter says
Perhaps a bit off topic, but here goes.
I just recently had to cut down my first banana tree in my Flori-DUH food forest.
Discovered myriad articles and videos RE: recipes using banana stems. Mostly from India. Although I consider myself a 'Radical Empiricist', I'm no way a culinary genius. (YET)
I first tried my own recipe adaptation on myself, then on a visiting friend, then in collaboration w/ another friend. All successes w/ varying degrees of YFY. (Yum, F______ , Yum)
To my understanding, the Universe is infinite. (Bountiful). So much of our illusory Zeitgeist is merely a reflection of SLBS. (Self limiting belief systems) All of life is an experiment, that I choose to enjoy.
Thanks...............
Nik Aebs says
I'm on that reicpe tonight
Also, I love how vegans are tough and do not take crap from pig eaters!
Hannah says
Excellent I’m gonna try this!
VEGGIEIB says
Lori Parker - Thanks for that info!
Me says
First, please forgive the fellow meat eaters that apparently are haters for no other reason than they hate their lives. And second, I am by no means a vegan. However, a friend told me about it and my curiosity's peaked. I love finding extraordinarily extraordinary recipes and this one meets the criteria. Thank you for sharing.
Pescatarian Not Vegan says
I can’t veliefd I’m gonna try it but...I’m gonna try it! I guess I’m most so intrigued by it and the fact I don’t have to buy a damn thing to make it. I’ll have to report back about how my meat eating husband feels about it after the fact. He’s usually fine with meat substitutes but this is kinda off-the-wall. I kinda can’t wait!!
BLM says
Interesting.. Question: sometimes bananas give me upset stomach.. How about the peels??
Are they different?
Chris says
If you have a latex allergy or sensitivity you may want to avoid bananas altogether. Sudden, life threatening allergic reactions are possible and latex (banana and rubber plants are related) is one of those things that can cause such a reaction. Other than that, the peels apparently have less sugar. I say this because we were able to give our bunny that was on an all natural (no pellets) diet a small amount of banana peel when the banana itself is too sugary for a bun. Rabbits are not supposed to have large amounts of simple carbohydrates and banana was on the "no-no" list. It is hard to say if the peels will cause the same issue as the fruit because you did not mention why they upset your stomach. Maybe give this a try and see, if the stomach upset isn't usually too bad?
GarlicBreath says
Super impressed with this concept and the recipe! Lots of seasonings ensure you won't be missing out on flavor. Wondering if you've tried freezing this and at what point? Also, tips for keeping the bun from getting too wet right away? I ate mine just a minute after assembling but it got soggy really quick and I am already a fast eater. Thanks for sharing!
Melissa says
I haven't tried freezing it but some people say you can freeze the peels before cooking. I'm not sure they would freeze well after cooking, I feel they might thaw mushy. As for the buns maybe add a couple of lettuce leaves to act as "insulation"?
Susie says
Maybe toast the bun? Brushed with a little olive oil and browned in the skillet.
Hailey says
Definitely toast your buns for any sandwich to make them hold up better and just taste better! Heat skillet to med, put olive oil or margarine in the pan and rub the bread around, then press it down in the middle so the whole surface of the bread makes contact with the pan. Not pressing it into the pan might make just the edges of the bread toast.
jmari says
Made this using my own BBQ Sauce and Cole Slaw. Used two banana peels per sandwich. Really liked it and like that I can make use of the peels. Lots of potential for trying different spice mixtures.
Todd Behrens says
I was really intrigued by this, but became really disappointed. I could not seem to get the peel to become tender. I went 15 minutes, tasting occasionally, and still it remained rubbery. Nor did it seem to absorb much flavor, and the spice blend itself needs help. The blend of flavors is rather bitter, and the sweetness from the BBQ sauce isn't enough to make the flavor pleasant. Maybe Maple syrup or another sweetener, along with some liquid smoke might help. But I don't think I'm giving this a second chance.
Camille says
Interesting concept, and the texture was pleasant. The flavor though...the banana lingers and does not pair well with bbq sauce. Glad I tried it, but I won't be making it again.
get help please says
YALL VEGANS REALLY BE EATING BITTER ASS BANANA PEELS PLEASE STOP
Raigh says
yall need jesus
Katherine says
There is an ongoing HUMANITARIAN CRISIS in Venezuela. They started doing this because there are barely any resources
We should take this opportunity to HELP VENEZUELA some people eat this because they don’t have a choice. The original recipe is “carne mechada” which is a meat dish. PLEASE DONATE AND SHARE https://www.gofundme.com/CompartePorUnaVida 🇻🇪
Melissa says
Metro.co.uk (click to read full article) : We tried the vegan pulled pork made from banana peel - and it was actually good
The Stingy Vegan says
The number of one star reviews saying that this recipe is disgusting has increased exponentially since Julien Solomita published his video yesterday. I watched his video (and I think that it's great - this recipe is KILLING IT on google right now thanks to him!) so when you come here saying the EXACT same thing that he did (like, verbatim), I know you're a fake-ass troll and you didn't even try the recipe. Try to be more clever.
Jane says
Can you tell us what Julien Solomita did wrong when he followed your recipe?
The Stingy Vegan says
Well, he didn't actually follow the recipe. The recipe says to cook it with water and add barbecue sauce. He didn't do either of those things. But he didn't actually do anything "wrong"; he made a video for his audience knowing what they would like and that's perfectly fine with me. The purpose of the video was to say it was disgusting, add a click-bait title, and get people to watch him eat a "gross" thing. Also, he knows that this recipe has gone super viral and is being covered in the media all over the world. The smart influencers like him are pushing out content as quickly as possible in order to come up in google whenever someone searches for banana peel pulled pork (and searches are through the roof right now). It's been great for me and my blog - I couldn't have asked for better publicity!
Tyler says
Honestly I thought it was really tasty. I like that it uses what would otherwise have been foodwaste from my morning smoothie. Can see myself using this one for future lunches.
Ben says
Thank you for this recipe, and all the others that I have fed my family with from your website.
Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere on the page. Have you tried this with ripened / slightly over-ripened banana peels? And if so, what has happened.
All the best x
The Stingy Vegan says
I have not tried it but I do believe that others have. For example, in this video her bananas are yellow with some brown spots. They seem to come apart a bit as she shreds them but the resulting sandwich seems to be ok in terms of flavor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McdEOcecrG0&t=3s
Anon says
I've tried making vegan burgers with banana peels, and found the "Saba" banana variety works better. The banana peel is less bitter. After you boil the bananas first, squeeze out excess water from the peels, and then chop the peels. You can find Saba bananas in most Asian markets, but using saba banana peels is quite common in the Philippines.
Melissa says
Thanks for the tip and for confirming that eating banana peels is totally normal!
Purple People Eater says
Make sure you use organic bananas when you make this as regular bananas are soaked in and sprayed with more pesticides than any other fruit or veggie to kill the deadly spiders that live in them. Though I'm still deciding ethically which is worse: the workers harvesting bananas dying slowly from pesticides or quickly by spider bite...
Anusha says
I tried this recipe, but just couldn't get the peels to soften. I cooked them for a good 10 minutes with a bit of bbq sauce. also you could taste the peelyness of the peels. any tips?
The Stingy Vegan says
Make sure to cook them with water and keep adding more water or reduce the heat if it all evaporates before they're cooked. They will eventually turn to mush if you cook them too long like this so you need to find that sweet spot where they're tender through but not mushy. The cooking time depends on the ripeness of the bananas so you can try using firmer or softer bananas next time (depending on what you used this time - it sounds like you need ones a bit riper). You can also try shredding them a bit thinner and make sure that they are all more or less the same thickness so that they cook evenly. Hope that helps and no, I don't delete the negative comments but my spam filter catches a lot of the fake ones. If you try to make it look like a real question, I'll answer it.
A Magical Life says
My husband made a simple version of this recipe this morning after seeing the video online and looking it up. He liked them but I was not impressed and didn't finish one bite. They were bland and stringy, very fibrous. I asked him if he followed the recipe and he said he followed the summary on top (add a few splashes of water and cook about 5 minutes) and not the recipe itself because he was trying to read it on his phone. I also asked if he read the comment about adding more water and making sure they were tender and he hadn't, which might have helped clarify it for better results (he pointed out the comments are cluttered up forever with people arguing about whether you should call it pork and then insulting the meat eater who said that). So this might have been better if he'd followed the recipe instead of just your summary. We may try it again with more water and longer cooking but I don't know. What he ended up with was really not something I'd purposely make again. We're a very frugal family but unless there are great health benefits in the peels I'll just continue to use them in the compost.
I would really like to know the edibility of peels, too. You say that a google search will show that they're edible but we've actually looked into it in the past and have found conflicting information. If you found good info through google, it would be really helpful to link that for your readers so we don't have to search through so much to find out too.
Also folks, be SURE you only use organic peels. Conventional bananas are doused with pesticides and they're even more toxic than other produce because it's assumed that people will not eat the peels.
Aquarian says
SO HAPPY with this recipe! When i first found it i thought it is SO mind-blowing and SO BIZARRE that i just HAD to try it and we just finished eating our sandwiches and we LOOOOVED THEM!
The only thing I might try next time is to leave the peels in the pan just slightly longer [I think they were done perfectly according to the recipe, but I personally would maybe prefer them slight more done] and I might try marinating and cooking some chopped onion with the peels, I think that might give them that additional kick 🙂
Carli says
Yall I am a HUGE Julien fan and a vegan so I tried this ASAP and it was actually GOOD. The barbecue sauce and steaming it with water like the recipe says makes it taste so much better. Julien didn't do either of those things which is disappointing. I still prefer literally every other pulled pork substitute but this did actually turn out yummy lol. And I was only doing it as a joke and thought it would be awful! Please stop harassing and spamming the page it's so rude.
Vegans R. Sad says
Lmaooo vegans hate meat eaters and meat but you ppl sure do love making fake meat recipes. Banana peels belong in compost.
Diana says
What's sad is you lurk on vegan pages to hate on vegans. Do you really have nothing better to do with your time?
Your Friend says
Vegans don't hate meat eaters, they hate animal cruelty & animal agriculture. Ever consider that recipes like this are designed to entice people who are used to eating meat, and to demonstrate that you don't have to sacrifice your favorites just because you want a meat-free alternative? Recipes like this helped me ease into the transition into being a vegetarian because I was honestly kind of a clueless cook without meat as the focus! My reason for going meat-free was because I've seen the truth behind how we get our meat, and it's truly heartbreaking and made me actually sick to my stomach. But if you want to keep eating meat, that's your choice! And I don't see the need to be rude or condescending or make you feel inferior, because you're just a person & I'm just a person and we're just out here living our lives. I appreciate that you're using the peels as compost <3 You've inspired me to start my own compost!
Lilianna says
Have you tried it? It is actually good.
Steph says
Skeptical meat eater here!
I became interested after watching Juliens video. I found it hilarious that something this bizarre existed! After watching a few other (successful) videos, I decided to give it a go.
Ohhhh boy was I surprised! I was SO shocked at how flavoursome and moorish it was! I added some caramelised onion to it aswell... Delish! I loved it so much that I would make this OVER the original pork! Bloody amazing. Still thinking about it over 24 hours later hahaha
Melissa says
Best. Comment. Ever.
MK says
I noticed you mentioned it was originally made with plantain peels, and I know those are really different foods taste-wise so I was wondering if you'd made it before with plantains, and how did it taste compared to bananas? (So excited to try this recipe!)
Melissa says
Yes, I also tested it with plantain peels. They needed more cooking to get tender so I prefered the banana peels. But with the spices and bbq sauce I didn't notice a big difference in flavour.
Emily says
I started this recipe as a joke because of Julien’s video and usually I am bad at recipes but this turned out so well-I was low on seasonings but I had my favorite barbecue sauce and it turned out amazing. SERIOUSLY try this. I thought my peels were not ripe enough so I put in more water and put the lid on then drained the excess after 5 minutes, cooked for a few more and then they were perfect!!
Niamh says
I just finished mine off that i had in tacos and it is amazing!!! I watched the dumb Julien video and was put off but went for it and am so i happy i did :') so cheap and easy - well done!
Mariam says
I really wanted to like this recipe, as I thought it was such a neat idea. I followed the directions to a T. It took me sooo long to separate the white part from the peels (maybe I was scraping off too much?). I thought the spiced peels tasted better before I cooked them. They immediately got very bitter in the pan--even gave off a pungent odor. I am not usually a picky eater, but I ended up having to throw away most of this concoction. No one else in my family could eat much of it, either. 🙁 Very disappointing!
The Stingy Vegan says
Sorry you had trouble with the recipe. Banana peels in themselves are not very bitter. Since you mention that you tasted them before cooking and they got bitter only after they went in the pan, I'm going to guess that the spices got burnt. Burnt spices are not pleasant and will result in bitterness. I don't imagine you'll be trying the recipe again but it's a good tip for others who read this comment to be sure that the heat is not too high when the peels hit the pan, remove the pan from the heat if it begins to smell bad or "pungent", and to add water so that they simmer rather than fry.
Mum says
Hi,
My husband went on a school trip with his students to Spain and heard about banana peel in cooking (“we waste nothing!” they told him) so I was really curious and went looking for a recipe. Found this. Thanks, it was really nice! We topped crusty slices of bread with this, done with fried onions and fresh coriander. Also used a smokey paprika powder. Will definitely make it again!
The Stingy Vegan says
Great! So glad you enjoyed it! I'm curious about where and who in Spain told him about it. There are some restaurants in other parts of the world serving this recipe but I haven't heard of anyone in Spain using banana peels.
Rox says
This recipe was amazing. Had non-vegans coming back for seconds. I served it on a bed of jasmine rice (as I am trying to cut out bread at this stage of my life), with veggies on the side and a large garlic roasted mushroom. Making banana bread with the leftover bananas. Thanks once again.
Melissa says
Awesome! It's so great to hear that everyone can enjoy this recipe, whether their vegans or not! I make banana bread from my leftover bananas too.
Haddie says
What a wonderful idea! I can't wait to try this. My family eats tons of bananas - in baked goods, smoothies, fried as a snack, and as a portable meal on the go. I've often wondered if the peels were edible. Thanks so much for this.
Haddie says
I got the chance to make this over the weekend! I marinated the peels overnight, then cooked them, then served them with some sweet peppers over lentils. It was an easy and delicious meal. Plus, it's a great conversation starter. Everyone was curious about the recipe. Thanks so much. I will definitely make this again.
Carly says
Not good at all.
Melissa says
Would you care to elaborate? What was it that you didn't like? Or did you just come here to comment after watching a video on youtube?
Jessica says
I've lurked on this website for a while and never commented, but felt obligated after seeing some of the comments above. If you don't have anything better to do than troll a food blog, friends, gardening is a nice hobby. Anyway, this evening, I was hungry and procrastinating, so instead of working I thought I'd peek at food blogs. Color me shocked to find out that the banana peels I toss in excess (I love smoothies) are usable. I'm actually embarrassed I hadn't looked it up. Sadly, I didn't have barbecue sauce or buns, but I had three overripe bananas I needed to freeze (the peels cooked just fine with your suggestion of a shorter cooking time, just had to use a knife to cut them since they were too delicate to shred with a fork). I added chili garlic sauce + maple syrup to make up for the lack of BBQ sauce, subbed dijon mustard for the mustard powder I don't have, and added turmeric since I put it in everything. Cooked the peels for five minutes, served on toast. It was...delicious. The texture is sort of like squash. I didn't get a hint of banana at all. I don't eat red meat anymore and really miss pulled pork! It's one of my favorites in the summer. So thank you very much for this recipe! My next mission is to get barbecue sauce so I can make it properly.
Lobstermeat says
Ok so I have not made this yet! That's why I have not rated it but I might just give this a try. I must admit that I took some offence to using the term BBQ for this. Only because BBQ is stile of cooking and my family are die hard Qs. I will not let the misuse of a term keep me from trying this recipe. Ill eat anything a few times!!!
Jacquelyn Mixon says
So I have been flirting with being vegan lately. My main concern is cost, so I may or may not have been scrolling through this site for the past 3 hours. This looks pretty amazing. So I was surprised to hear all the negative feedback and judgement (I mean banana peels are gross but deep fried bacon is delicious?) . My only concern is texture, it looks like taste will definitely be there with the spices, but does anyone who has had it have some good comparisons?
Thanks!
Tania says
Yes, the texture is almost exactly like nopales (cactus). If you’ve never had nopales, then I would compare it to thinly sliced grilled onion.
Lee says
Crazy! First I simmered the peels x15 minutes in hot water w/ lemon juice, Then marinated x 10 minutes w/soy sauce and chili powder (smelled like chorizo). Then sauteed w/a tablespoon chopped onion for a few minutes, then added BarBQue sauce, Topped on a ciabatta bun w/ simple coleslaw recipe and fresh cilantro and it was so good. Next I experimented w/ Banana peel "fake-on" bacon and added a few pieces to another sandwich--added alot of depth to the Pulled-whatever-you- want to call it! Thanks for the blog--I plan to keep trying out the recipes here but Melissa You ROCK!
Barbara says
I made the mistake of using the wrong size spoons for my spices and put too much in the marinade - a bit too spicy for me. I added water to the marinade as well as during cooking the bananas, it seemed to need more than a “splash”. Turned out quite acceptable and good texture. I will try it again using the correct measurements next time I’ve got a couple of spare skins - as I have bananas in my smoothie everyday - I won’t have to wait long.
Laura Williamson says
Wow, who knew? I just made this for lunch, and it’s delicious! Not a hint of banana flavour. No, it doesn’t taste like pork, but neither does a real pulled pork sandwich. And that’s what it tastes like. Lots of meaty, spicy, bbq sauce yumminess! I used two banana peels for one sandwich, simmered uncovered about six minutes before adding bbq sauce and sautéed onion for one more minute. It was perfect. I’ve been looking for recipes to feed my vegetarian daughter when she visits next month, and here it is. I’ll be making it again before that, though.
Now I need to test this out with teriyaki sauce and add it to stir fried peppers and snow peas over rice. The principal is the same, so it should work.
Jackrabbit says
Is there a way to have the peel go crunchy? would cooking in a little oil rather than water make them crunchy?
The Stingy Vegan says
Actually the ends that were a bit thinner started to go a bit crispy so it might work if you scrape the peels down until they're super thin and fry them. I haven't tried it out so I can't say for sure though.
passionateaboutfood says
I would love to go plant based (It’s hard since I’m a teenager and live at home). I saw that recipe just in hopes to produce less waste since I love smoothies with banana and must say, it’s DELICIOUS! Great substitute for a BBQ craving.
Sarah says
Good!
A French try-girl says
I am so surprised! This recipe is amazing. I saw that all over the internet a couple days ago and decided to give it a try, even though I was sceptical. Well, I'm happy I did! Thank you for this mind blowing recipe.
Curious meat eater says
Thank you for the recipe, it was very easy to follow and made a easy and fast lunch the texture was good however it was far to spicy for me. I will try it again with less chilli powder.
Samantha says
Can you use the white part that you scrape off the inside of the peel for something else? Does it have some nutritional value?
Kimberly Thiry says
I haven't tried the recipe yet but will soon. I'm an avid meat eater but also a person that hates waste. I will admit the pics piqued my interest as they look amazing and quite frankly I could smother an old tire in bbq sauce and my family would devour it. Thank you for another option for my vegan friends too, I will have another recipe for them to enjoy during summer cookouts.
Meredith says
I just cooked this recipe and put on a taco with red cabbage slaw and cilantro...it was fabulous! I will definitely be making this for my family and friends...I'm glad I can get my B6 and B12 vitamins while eating a tastey meal.
Akshada says
I am really excited to try this! I am a meat eater, but I really enjoy vegan alternatives. My mother also runs a bbq restaurant, but she wants to also explore vegan alternatives and if this tastes good, as most people say it does, I am going to show this to her. I love making banana espresso ice cream, so I always have banana peels lying around. You really have no idea how excited I am to try this!
Kierstin says
Texture was awful for me. Super tough to eat, no matter how long I cooked it. Taste isn’t bad but I just couldn’t eat it.
katrina says
I ate a banana and then remembered I wanted to try this so I just whipped it up with a little water for simmering, paprika, liquid smoke and then bbq sauce (took 4 minutes total from peel to mouth). I have to say..... was pretty yum! Mine was slightly tough but I took that to mean "follow the recipe". Still, even skipping the prep, it was just a tiny bit tough (just a couple of pieces)... Kierstin, maybe it was your bananas? Don't give up! I'm not vegan, just veg. and trying to not waste. Thanks for posting this recipe!
Zizi says
I don’t understand people, sometimes the easiest and tasties recipes come from simplest food, my mother use to make meatballs with the green plantain skin, yes was not meet but no one in our families complain was so simple and reusable none waste
VegetarianVenezuelan says
I'm venezuelan and had heard about this trend but haven't actually tried it. Now, I just wanna do it and stuff an arepa with it :-). Thank you!!
ML says
Hi...made this for lunch for the week...and I was a little nervous. my brother looked at me as though I had finally gone completely insane...but it was so delicious...like really really delicious...It shocked me how yummy it was. I have eaten it for lunch twice so far...no adverse reactions. I'm always looking for things to try to not make meal prep boring...so thanks
Pescatarian - not quite a vegan says
Ok, so I used to be a steak eating, meat munching, beer swigging carnivore. I changed my ways 2 years ago and miss pulled pork. I thought this was great. I didn’t use the ingredients you listed as I adapted what I used to use when I used to cook pork. I was surprised and really enjoyed it.
Mads says
Searched for a banana peel recipe and stumbled across this one. Used homemade BBQ sauce and the result was absolutely amazing. Love, love, love this recipe! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Niamh says
Surprisingly good, even though I don't like bananas! Tastes amazing.
Kari says
Instead of bbq sauce, I used gangchujang and bulgogi sauce. It tasted good, but remove the cumin.
.
Kelly says
I was SO SKEPTICAL about this recipe. Who would eat BANANA PEELS?! But gosh darn it, it’s delicious!! Make this! It’s not bitter at all. It’s just a little stringy but that can be battled by cutting it up a little more after shredding the peels. The spices are great and the sandwich was filling! Loved it!
Päivi Sinisalo says
Loved this recipe! Never crossed my mind that banana peels are edible. Thank you for sharing this!
southernplanteater says
Your blog is amazing! I am so interested in trying this recipe, but I've got a question about collecting/storing those banana peels before cooking! We go through 1 or 2 bananas daily at my house. Can I scrape the peels, then put them in the freezer or fridge until week's end, then make this recipe? I do realize that you might not have an answer and that's okay with me. Thanks!
Melissa says
You're right, I don't have the answer! But maybe someone else does!
Mathieu says
Hey, did you try freezing?
L says
Made and truly enjoyed! I saw a video about using banana peels awhile ago and when searching for a recipe again, I found yours. It did not disappoint. My goal is to reduce my waste and to live as plant-based as possible but I still eat meat and fish on occasion. With this I was hoping to find something that satisfies both plant-based and non-plant based diets. I think this is it! The recipe directions are clear and simple. Thank you for a unique way to use up all of a banana!
valeroe says
Nice recipe but the comments are really sour. I mean, imagine reading so positive and... just don't look at the comments. Will ruin your day.
True says
I'm just wondering if you had the nutritional info for the pulled pork? Look forward to finally trying it 🙂
The Stingy Vegan says
I couldn't find the nutritional info for just a banana peel so that's why I wasn't able to calculate the info for the recipe as a whole. If anyone knows, they can let me know!
Diane Ridings says
Geeze, so many haters on here. You all need to leave others alone, none of your business what they choose to eat or not eat. Maybe you should direct your energy at something more productive. Get a life.
Becca says
Perfect combo of spices, Bananas were a bit chewy after seven minutes so maybe the whole ten minutes cooking. I also don't think that much oil is needed. Perhaps it isn't necessary at all, though fat does enhance flavor...Great recipe overall!
Erin C says
great recipe that reduces food waste. 10/10
Doe says
Hello, I followed your recipe but cooking the whole 10 minutes didn’t help much. Is there a maximum of time that you would suggest for cooking? The banana peels were really chewy. Would love to try making them again because they seem like they would be delicious if cooked thoroughly. Thanks!
Katy Birkett says
Not vegan or even vegetarian. Tried it out because I was curious. Honestly delicious. Will genuinely make again - curious if anyone knows how well it will keep? Can I stockpile banana peel in the freezer?
I'm not a vegan but.... says
I liked the texture but I have found it too spicy. And I halved the amount of spice. I would personally lessws the spice next time I try to cook this. But I have enjoyed it all I need to do now is work out the kcal and nutrition value of banana skin so I can add it to my tracker. It tasted nice and could not tell it was banana skin.
I'm not a vegan but need to increase my potassium and fiber my gp has said I should try eating cooked banana skins so here I am.
Ed Shearon says
All this talk about what to name this, but no discussion of what, if any, nutritional value this concoction contains.
Joel says
This looks wonderful and I can’t wait to try it. Has anyone tried to smoke the peels w indirect head from wood flame like traditional BBQ? I imagine the peels would dry out but maybe with a steam bath in the smoker it could impart that part of the flavor profile.
Kajal says
I tried this now. My bananas were unfortunately very ripe so the peels weren't very solid. But I used them anyway. Also I didn't have the required spices so I used what I had on hand which were peri peri spice, masala, garlic and BBQ spice. It cooked quite quickly. I made the sandwich with mayo, onion, and some cabbage. I really enjoyed it and I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't taste of banana at all. Thank you so much for this recipe!
Helen says
yum. Thanks for posting this Melissa. used your spice combo as a starting point give or take what I had/didn’t have in & marinaded for 30 min or a lot longer depending on how organised I am. finished it with bulls eye chipotle bbq sauce. wow. I’m not an obligate vegan or even full time vegetarian as you can tell, but I am looking to reduce my C footprint and i deplore waste, it tastes fab & has served me very well for the past year or so. Am thinking about trying with hoisin sauce rather than bbq, & tweak the spices a bit, whadya reckon?
Stephanie says
Than you, thank you, thank you! To experiment today, (before cooking it for 4 soon!) I cooked just one banana peel for myself, put a little mayo on whole grain bread, with the banana ‘meat’ on top. Didn’t make slaw today….just wanted to see how the basic taste was. Oh heavens…..this is seriously amazing! I’ve heard of cooking banana peels in the past, but this is the first recipe that made me want to give it a go. I can’t wait to make this for my family. I just need to figure out what to do with all the bananas themselves after I peel them all😂
Shruthi says
How important is it to "Scrape the white part off the inside of the peels"?
Thanks!
Peggy says
How do I find the nutritional information for this recipe please? We are vegan and hate waste and would love to use, but I am concerned not enough protein. I can see the nutritional information disclaimer but no nutritional info. Please help. Thanks.
Melissa says
There is no nutritional information because I have no idea what the nutritional content of a banana peel is and no online nutrition calculator has this information.