Substitutes for Banana: The 10 Best Alternatives!

Banana is perhpas the most widely traded fruit on the planet. Fruit can be classified as both a fruit and a berry. Soft, sweet, and mushy, it can be eaten raw or cooked. It’s a banana. The banana tree is connected to ginger, turmeric, and cardamom on a distant level.

Bananas are classified as berries since they come from a flower. Bananas come in over 1000 varieties, classified into 50 groups. Cavendish is the most well-known and traded type.

Bananas are available in a variety of sizes and hues. Bananas come in a variety of flavors. Plantains are what they’re called. They are less sweet and contain more starch than conventional bananas.

The banana tree’s leaves and blooms are used in Asian, Latin, and Caribbean cuisines. The blossoms can be used in curries, salads, and soups, and the leaves can be used to wrap food before steaming.

Bananas can be used in various dishes, including shakes, desserts, fruit salads, bread, muffins, and smoothies. You may also steam, roast, or fry bananas to make excellent chips. Bananas are high in minerals, vitamins, and fiber; thus, they can be consumed regularly.

Suppose you don’t like bananas or have any on hand but want to prepare a smoothie or delectable banana bread. In that case, there are a few ingredients you may use as a substitute. For instance, applesauce or avocado can be used in baking. In contrast, oatmeal, mango, or Greek yogurt can be used in smoothies.

Let’s look at some of the most excellent banana alternatives available.

Substitutes for bananas

In baking recipes, bananas can be used in eggs or oil, but what can be used in place of bananas in baked goods? Well, it all depends on what flavor you choose.

There are many fruits to choose from while making smoothies or shakes. Avocado, applesauce, or mashed cooked potato can all be used. You can add chia seeds and Greek yogurt to pineapple, mango, avocado, or strawberry.

No. 1 Plantains

Plantains, as previously stated, are a variety of banana that is less sweet than ordinary bananas. They are also larger and contain more starch than bananas.

Plantains can be used in place of bananas in baked products and smoothies. You won’t receive any banana flavor, but you will appreciate the lovely creamy texture.

Because unripe plantains have a firm texture and a starchy flavor, they’re best boiled or fried. However, they can also be utilized when fully ripe.

No. 2 Avocado

Avocado has a moderate flavor and a texture that is smooth and creamy. It’s a versatile ingredient that may be utilized in sweet and savory meals. Avocado is used in various cuisines, including dips, spreads, milkshakes, desserts, salads, soups, and many others. Avocados can also be used as a meat substitute due to their high-fat content.

Avocados can be used in smoothies, muffins, and other baked goods as a banana substitute. It’s because avocado is not sweet, you may need to add some sweetness to obtain a similar soft texture.

Applesauce contains apples, sugar, and spices such as cinnamon and allspice. It has a thick texture and a sweet, somewhat tangy flavor. Cakes, bread, sauces, salads, and muffins use apple sauce.

No 3. Apple ketchup

Half a cup of apple sauce can be used in place of one banana. It will give your dish moisture and freshness. However, don’t add more than 1 cup, or the mixture will get wet.

No 4. Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can bake, fry, boil, or use them as a portion of pasta, soup, or roasting sauce base.

Sweet potatoes, like bananas, are a healthful food. They don’t have the same flavor, but they have comparable vitamin, mineral, and calorie content.

The potatoes must first be cooked before being mashed. As a result, you can use them in place of bananas. In place of bananas, you can use them in smoothies or other baked food.

They will give foods a silky texture and a moderately sweet flavor. You’ll obtain a beautiful purple tint if you add purple sweet potato to a smoothie or milkshake.

No 5. Oats

Oatmeal is created with oats that have been treated. You can use them to make cookies, cakes, and bread, or use them in your muesli and porridge.

Oatmeal is high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants, making it a healthy choice. You can use it to thicken the mixture instead of bananas, but you’ll have to ground it to have a smoother texture.

No 6. Mango

Mango is a tropical fruit that tastes like a blend of peach and pineapple. It comes in various hues, including red, yellow, orange, green, and a mixture of these colors.

Mango can be found in a variety of sweet and savory foods, such as sauces, curries, stir-fries, chutneys, salads, and smoothies, as well as topping cakes and tarts. It can be used as a banana alternative in smoothies, adding a creamy, thick texture and a sweet flavor.

No 7. Chia seeds

Chia seeds are tiny oval seeds rich in omega-three fatty acids, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. They have a slightly nutty flavor and a crisp texture.

Chia seeds will absorb the liquid and swell if you add them to it. Chia seeds can drink 12 times their body weight in fluids. In smoothies, puddings, protein bars, beverages, salads, and baked items, you can grind them up or use them whole.

If you’re using chia seeds, keep in mind that they’re not as sweet as bananas, so you’ll need to sweeten them up a bit. If you use too much, the texture will become very thick.

No. 8 Greek Yogurt

Regular yogurt is thinner and less creamy than Greek yogurt. It has a higher protein content but a lower sugar content. Dressings, sauces, dips, marinades, and smoothies all benefit from it. It can also be used in desserts to replace buttermilk and sour cream.

The flavor of Greek yogurt is tangy and sour. If you don’t like it, you can sweeten it with some dried fruit. If you use Greek yogurt, the texture will be smooth and thick, but the flavor will be completely different.

Gelatin (obtained from animal bones) and sugar are thickening ingredients used in some yogurts. As a result, use caution when purchasing items. Always choose yogurt that doesn’t have any thickeners or sugar added to it.

No. 9 Pumpkin

Pumpkins come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Sugar pumpkins are often referred to as pie or sweet pumpkins and are considered to be the best for cooking.

They are smaller and sweeter than other pumpkins, having a sweet flavor that improves with roasting. Boiling or steaming them is also an option.

They work well in sweet and savory meals such as muffins, cakes, bread, and soups. If fresh pumpkin is unavailable, canned or frozen pumpkin can be substituted. It’s because bananas are sweeter than pumpkins that you’ll need to modify the sugar amount when using pumpkins.

No. 10 Cream of coconut

Coconut cream is thicker than coconut milk and includes more fat. Desserts, soups, smoothies, and curries all use it for thickening.

Smoothies made with coconut cream have a creamy texture and a coconut flavor. Since it has a high-fat content, don’t use too much coconut cream in your preparation.

Associated Issues

What fruit has a banana-like flavor?

Plantain is a fruit that looks like a banana. As a result, they’re fantastic stand-ins for one another.

What can I use in place of bananas in smoothies?

In smoothies, avocado, chia seeds, mango, Greek yogurt, oats, and coconut cream can be used instead of bananas.

Is it possible to use eggs instead of bananas?

Bananas can be used instead of eggs. Use one egg instead of a 12-cup mashed ripe banana.

Is it possible to use bananas instead of oil?

Bananas can be used instead of oil. To replace one cup of oil, use one cup of mashed banana.

Last Thoughts

Bananas are one of the most widely consumed fruits on the planet. They can be used in various cuisines or as a replacement for other components such as eggs, butter, and oil. If you want to try something different, you can use some of the substitutions mentioned above in place of bananas in your recipe.