Minatamis na Saging (Sweetened Saba Bananas)

You can find banana trees almost everywhere in the Philippines. Most often than not, you’ll see them on the streets, backyards, commercial spaces, and of course at banana farms and plantations. Banana trees in the Philippines are what lemon trees are in California. I guess that’s why the Philippines is one of the leading global exporters of bananas.

Because of this widespread availability, Filipinos get to enjoy a variety of this fruit. For example, we have lakatan (the bananas we’re all familiar with), senorita (super short yet plump, finger-like shaped bananas), latundan (a cross between lakatan and senorita), and saba (thick, large, and hearty bananas). Each one has its own unique characteristic, but only one kind is used to make Sweetened Bananas or Minatamis na Saging.

Easy to make, Easy to love

So what exactly is Minatamis na Saging? For one, it’s traditionally vegan Filipino! It’s made of saba bananas and a sweet syrup called arnibal. Filipinos usually enjoy Minatamis na Saging as snack. Sometimes, Filipinos add milk and shaved ice to make it a cold treat, also known as Saba Con Yelo.

Filipinos make sweetened saba bananas at home all the time; it’s more of a beloved homemade dish than a restaurant special. That’s most likely because making it at home is super easy. It takes only 3 ingredients -bananas, brown sugar, and water. You can add vanilla extract if you’re feeling fancy. Just combine everything, simmer down the sauce, and you’re done.

But what does it tastes like?

I assume you’ve eaten a banana before. If you have (please tell me you have!), then imagine its natural sweetness but with a hearty texture, complemented with caramel and (interestingly) apple-like notes.

You can enjoy Minatamis na Saging as is, or upgraded with shaved ice and non-dairy milk. Feel free to take it a step further. Add it to your Halo-halo drink or enjoy it with ice cream. I recommend cashew-based vanilla ice cream.

If you want something hot instead of a cold treat (in San Francisco it gets foggy even in the middle of summer!), then feel free to enjoy Minatamis na Saging out of the pot, while it’s still hot. You can top the sweetened bananas on soups like oatmeal. You can also put it in another traditionally vegan Filipino dish called Ginataang halo-halo. And that’s just the beginning! I’m sure you could come up with more creative ideas as you get familiar with sweetened saba bananas.

Childhood favorite

I remember every Sunday, my family and I would visit my dad’s side of the family (most of my dads’ relatives used to live in one large compound). I’d open my auntie’s fridge and get excited when I spot Minatamis na Saging. My auntie would insist that she made it for everybody and that I’m more than welcome to grab some for myself. Minatamis na Saging never fails to delight me, then and now.

Minatamis na Saging (and Saba Con Yelo)

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Go bananas over Minatamis na Saging or Sweetened Saba Bananas. They're sweet, hearty, and satisfying, perfect as dessert or snack. Kain na, let's eat!

Serves: 2-4

Ingredients

1½ cup water
½ cup organic brown sugar (in the US, non-organic brown sugar is not vegan)
2 ripe saba bananas, peeled and thinly sliced (the shape doesn't need to be precise).
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
Saba Con Yelo:
non-dairy milk
shaved ice

Instructions

In a small pot, combine water, sugar, and salt.
Heat pot over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Add bananas, cover the pot, and simmer for 30 minutes (the syrup won't really be thick and syrupy but will definitely be thicker).
Turn off heat and serve hot, warm, or chilled.

Saba Con Yelo

Place your preferred number of saba pieces in a glass (I usually like to put 4-6 pieces but it really doesn't matter how many).
Top with shaved ice. You can make homemade shaved ice by getting an ice shaver, which you can find at Asian grocery stores (see notes below).
Pour non-dairy milk.
Serve immediately.

Notes

If you live outside the Philippines, you can still have access to saba bananas. Just check your neighborhood Asian grocery stores and Filipino grocery stores, specifically at the produce section. Here in the Bay Area, they're not that expensive. Choose saba bananas that are soft and tender when pinched. You can also use plantains as an alternative.

Aside from vanilla extract, you can also add nutmeg and/or cinnamon.

In the US, non-organic brown sugar is not vegan because it uses animal bone char in its refining process.

You can make homemade shaved ice by getting an ice shaver, which you can find at Asian grocery stores. It looks like this:

If you prefer to watch the video recipe, here’s the YouTube version:

Filipinos go bananas (pun intended) over Minatamis na Saging. That’s because it’s easy to make and easy to love. It calls for only a few ingredients and simple methods. Yet, the result leads to sweet, caramel notes with a hearty bite. You can enjoy Minatamis na Saging warm or cold, by itself or with ice and non-dairy milk. You can even get creative with it and add Minatamis na Saging on oatmeal, ice cream, Halo-halo, and Ginataang Halo-halo. I prefer it by itself, chilled, just like how my auntie would prepare it for me and my family. I’ll leave it up to you which version you’d like the best. Kain na, let’s eat!