Banana ketchup

"Jufran Banana Sauce", a brand of banana ketchup made in Pasig City, Philippines shown with a plate of plantain tostones.

Banana ketchup or banana sauce is a popular Philippine condiment made from mashed banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Its natural color is brownish, so it is often dyed red to resemble tomato ketchup. Banana ketchup was made when there was a shortage of tomato ketchup during World War II, due to lack of tomatoes and a comparatively high production of bananas. In the Caribbean, the company Baron Foods Limited manufactures a banana ketchup which is yellow in keeping with the color perception associated with bananas. Baron Foods Grenada facility also makes a variant referred to as "Nutmeg" Banana Ketchup which is a combination of the exotic flavor of nutmegs and the typical banana ketchup flavor.

Flavor and use

Banana ketchup is sweeter than tomato ketchup and is similar in taste to the Indonesian Kecap manis and the Thai sweet chili sauce. In Filipino households, this ubiquitous condiment is used on just about any dish - omelettes (torta), hot dogs, burgers, fries, fish and other meats. Banana ketchup is also a vital and distinct ingredient in Filipino-style spaghetti (sweeter than the traditional Italian spaghetti).

It is exported to countries where there is a considerable Filipino population (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand).

Filipino food technologist Maria Y. Orosa (1893–1945) is credited with inventing a banana ketchup recipe.