A tropical fruit with a soft, enveloping sweetness and a subtle aroma is good in itself, but if you add the right products to it, it will open up from a new side. To find the perfect combination, use ingredients with similar taste qualities or play on the contrast and combine a banana with something sour, salty, fresh or crispy. Experiment on your own or use our ideas.
Fruits, berries and nuts
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Citrus fruits: oranges, grapefruits, lemons, tangerines. The invigorating aroma and acid balance the sweetness of the banana. Add the citrus slices to the salad and smoothies or sprinkle the fruit slices with freshly squeezed juice. This way they will not only taste brighter, but they will not darken.
Garnet. A few grains can become a bright accent in a banana pudding or salad.
Apples and pears. To combine with a banana, it is best to take hard, crunchy and sweet and sour varieties.
Tropical fruits: pineapples, mango, kiwi. Fruits with a bright taste and aroma and a neutral banana are an ideal combination for cakes, pastries, trifles, jellies and other desserts.
Avocado. Both fruits have a soft taste and tender flesh, so they will be successfully combined in smoothies, mousses, puddings and other dishes with a creamy consistency.
Dried fruits: dates, raisins, dried cranberries. Dates can be added to homemade sweets with banana and used as a sweetener in desserts, and raisins and cranberries can be mixed into the dough for cookies and cupcakes.
Milk. Both cow and vegetable will do. The easiest way to combine products is to make a milk banana cocktail.
Cream. With a topping of air whipped cream banana pastries will become even better.
Cottage cheese. Together with the mashed banana, it can be used in the dough for pancakes and cupcakes. Try hiding the pieces of fruit inside cheesecakes or simply combine them with cottage cheese for a quick and nutritious breakfast.
Mascarpone, ricotta and cream cheese. Soft cream cheese will be an excellent base for cream in a banana cake. If you don't want to cook a complex dessert, just spread the ricotta on toast, and put slices of fruit on top.
Ice cream. A ball of ice cream will make caramelized bananas or a warm pie from them much tastier.
Greek yogurt. Pieces of sweet fruit will balance the sourness of yogurt well.
Ryazhenka. The light caramel taste of melted milk in this drink is perfectly combined with bananas. Try to combine the products in a cocktail or make a simple dessert in a glass..
Condensed milk. Banana and plain or boiled condensed milk are an excellent filling for pancakes and waffles. Also, the products will be good together in cakes and pastries.
Brie, camembert and cheddar. This is a gourmet combination for those who like unusual tastes. Try a hot toast with melted cheese and fruit, or make a canape from the products.
Spices and alcohol
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Brown sugar, honey, maple syrup. Any of these sweeteners, unlike ordinary white sugar , will make the taste of banana dessert deeper and more versatile.
Vanilla. This additive will enhance the vanilla notes that are in the aroma of ripe bananas. The main thing is to choose natural vanilla extract, not vanillin.
Cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, ground ginger. The warm and spicy aroma of spices will suit any baked goods with bananas, a pinch can also be added to smoothies and cocktails.
Dark rum. Strong alcohol with notes of spices, nuts and vanilla can be added to caramelized bananas and impregnation for cakes or used as a basis for a cocktail with fruit.
Other products
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Chocolate. This classic pair is good in any desserts and drinks. It is best to complement the taste of the fruit chocolate with a high cocoa content.
Caramel. Pour it over banana pancakes and ice cream or add it to pies and cakes.
Coffee. Try pouring some strong coffee into a milky banana cocktail or cake impregnation.
Bacon. The combination of crispy salty bacon and soft sweet fruit is unexpected, but harmonious. You can use it in sandwiches and burgers.
