A traditional wholesome and hearty breakfast called Jamaican Green Banana porridge. This Caribbean breakfast bowl is totally vegan and will keep you content until lunch time. Made with unripe bananas or you can even use green plantain, use a blender or grate it – the choice is yours!!
This porridge is a favourite breakfast for many Jamaicans because it is packed with essential minerals and vitamins that not only sustain energy levels but help yield a long lasting fuller feeling.
For those of you who aren’t in the loop regarding green bananas do not fret as I am more than willing to share what knowledge of have about green bananas and hopefully convince you to give this recipe a try.
What is green banana porridge?
In short it’s a porridge, a delicious breakfast made from unripened bananas, water, coconut milk, spices, vanilla and condensed milk .
Some Caribbean island for example St Lucia, Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago refer to green bananas as “figs”.
This same porridge can also be made using green plantain as well. It’s really a matter of preference and availability.
Keep in mind this recipe is totally vegan, I used coconut milk – full fat or homemade that’s emulsified to get that creaminess and condensed coconut milk to replicate the Caribbean people’s love for conventional condensed milk.
Also, you can make this recipe with a green plantain if you wish.
Two versions of green banana porridge – smooth and coarse
I totally forgot to mention that there are actually two versions of green banana porridge. The smooth pureed texture has actually evolved from the coarse texture since there were no blenders to puree the bananas in my grandmothers youth.
The old fashioned way calls of the green banana to be grated rather than pureed into a smooth consistency.
I actually prefer the coarse texture porridge since that is what I grew up on in my youth
How to make the old school method (Grated version, see the video)
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan (add the cinnamon sticks now if you are using them)
- Peel each green banana (you may place them in a bowl of salted water after peeling to stop them from turning brown).
- Use the side of a grater with the medium size holes to grate each banana.
- Add the banana mix to the boiling water and stir immediately until fully combined
- Allow the banana mix to cook for 5 minutes on medium heat
- Stir in the coconut milk, cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the coconut condensed milk, nutmeg, vanilla and pink salt.
How to make green banana porridge (Blender version)
Cut the ends off the green banana and make incisions ready to remove the peel
Cut the banana into slices and place in a bowl
Transfer the green banana with the water into a blender and puree
Pour in the coconut milk and stir in the spices
Stir in the condensed coconut milk and stir until it becomes thick and lump free
Can green bananas be eaten raw?
Unlike the ripened crop, green bananas aren’t eaten in their raw form, instead we boil or fry them then adding them to stews, eat alone or make porridge. It all depends on one’s cultural custom.
Is green plantain porridge the same as green banana porridge?
Yes, some people prefer to make this savoury dish with green plantain instead. The results are the same only using a different type of vegetable.
Notes and Tips
- A green plantain or green bananas can be used to make this recipe.
- If using the blender version make sure to use a high powered blender to lessen the chances of any lumps.
- I do not recommend using freezing any leftover porridge.
- Ripe bananas CANNOT replicate this recipe at all.
- Green banana/plantain can be purchased with any Caribbean/Caribbean/latino market. If you don’t live in a country/neighbour with this demographic then you probably won’t be able to source any.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days.
- Make sure the banana/plantain are a HIGH green hue, they should be very bright and off yellow.
More porridge recipes
Don’t forgot to make the vegan condensed milk for this recipe. Also, if you like porridge, don’t forgot to try the following recipes: –
Akasan (Haitian Cornmeal Drink)
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Green Banana Porridge (Vegan style)
Ingredients
- 3 Green bananas
- 2 1/2 cups of water
- 2 cups of coconut milk full fat
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract or powder
- 1/4 tsp of nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp of cinnamon or 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/8 tsp of himalayan pink salt
- 1/3 cup of condensed coconut milk or sweeten to taste(see post for the recipe link)
Instructions
- Wash the green bananas to remove any debris.
- Cut the tips of each banana and make an incision length ways with a pairing knife. Follow the incision around the banana in a circle so that the peel is removed and discard.
- Slice the banana into large discs and put in the blender with the water and puree.
- Once pureed pour the liquidised formula into a large sauce and begin to boil then reduce heat while stirring.
- Then stir in the coconut milk with the spices, pink salt and vanilla.
- Finally pour the desired amount of condensed coconut milk and allow to boil reduce to a simmer and stir to avoid any lumps for a further 5 minutes.
- Serve accordingly.
Notes
- A green plantain or green bananas can be used to make this recipe.
- If using the blender version make sure to use a high powered blender to lessen the chances of any lumps.
- I do not recommend using freezing any leftover porridge.
- Ripe bananas CANNOT replicate this recipe at all.
- Green banana/plantain can be purchased with any Caribbean/Caribbean/latino market. If you don't live in a country/neighbour with this demographic then you probably won't be able to source any.
- Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and consume within 2 days.
- Make sure the banana/plantain are a HIGH green hue, they should be very bright and off yellow.
Always goes down lovely; at times I also add 1/4 -`1/2 cup oats.
Thank you! I will definitely add some oats to mine next time.
Woke up this morning was craving one of the porridges i grew up on. I found your recipe and followed it, with a little remix. Thank you for posting
Hi Tish. I’m so glad I was an inspiration. I would love to know how you remixed the recipe? I bet it was tasty!!
Hi Charla,
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I used to make cornmeal porridge but now have to watch my blood glucose so I’m looking into resistant carbs. My mom was a “country girl” from Annotto Bay so she made this all the time. I haven’t had it since her passing and came upon your recipe. My mom used to grater the banana but that is really labour intense so I will try it your way in the processor and vegan style this morning. My mom also made boiled green banana and other ground provisions with Ackee and Saltfish if we were having it for dinner. Of course she made fried dumpling if we had the saltfish for breakfast. I’m going to try your smoothie next.
Hi Jennifer. Thanks for reaching out to me. My website is all about healthy Caribbean cooking as I know high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity are all commonplace amongst the black community. You will find many of my recipes taking blood sugar levels into consideration I often use ingredients have a low GI index which stabilises glucose, reducing that blood sugar spike. Before I started blogging I actually use to do the grating method which I agree is more laborious, hopefully you will find this blender technique sooo much more easier.
Thank you for the recipe! In PR we boil them and eat with salad and reconstituted salted codfish. I will try your porridge!
Thanks Nic. I would love to try more PR recipes!! Enjoy the porridge, it’s my favourite!
Condensed coconut milk..?. I’m not fan of condensed milk..but I think i’ll try the coconut version..??
Awesome! Christopher, I hope you like it 😉
I have seen a recipe in a never full diet book that says add some walnuts and slice some green banana to porridge but I don’t know if this can be done straight from peel without boiling or blending?
Hi. That’s interesting, I would suggest boiling and blending first and then following those steps you’ve mentioned.
Hi Charla,
Growing up in JA, I ate cornmeal and hominy porridge regularly, but never had green banana porridge.
Green bananas were only eaten at dinnertime in dishes such as mackerel run-down. Needless to say,
I was curious about your recipe and gave it a try this a.m.. This porridge is Yummy! Many thanks for
sharing, I’ll be making it quite often for breakfast at the weekend.
Hi Ceil. Glad you liked the green banana porridge. Not all Jamaicans are familiar with this recipe and I think it has to do whereabouts the individual was raised (i.e town or country). You can always use green plantains to make the recipe if you wish, same results!
Hi Charla,
Great point…I was raised in Kingston, perhaps that’s why this recipe was unfamiliar to me.
Thanks for the tip about using green plantains too. Keep well…
Thanks Ceil
This was such a good recipe .. Soo simple
Thank you
Aww thank you! Glad you liked it.
This sounds delish. What do you mean by condensed coconut milk? Is that the can 1 that is used in Thai cooking?
Hi Leesha, it’s condensed milk that’s made with coconut milk, I totally forgot to add the link in the post. You can check the recipe out here https://thatgirlcookshealthy.com/how-to-make-organic-condensed-coconut-milk
Than k s for sharing this recipe. I was introduced to green banana porridge by a Jamaican a couple years ago and I love it. We in Barbados normally just boil them.
Hi Jennifer, thanks for commenting. Green bananas are so diverse and you can do so much with them aside from the traditional boiling method. I hope you liked the porridge 🙂
Charla green bananas is one of the first solid foods we are fed growing up in Trinidad. Mashed green bananas! This porridge sounds so rich and delicious. I haven’t had green bananas is ages!
I love green bananas too, I think the entire Caribbean loves them lol.
I’ve shared this with a friend who can’t tolerate ripe bananas because of the sugar content, but can handle the green ones. She’ll love it. Thanks!
Hi Lydia, Thank you so much for commenting. Yes please send your friend this way. I’m positive she will love my recipe 😉