Banana ketchup


Banana ketchup or banana sauce is a popular Philippine fruit ketchup condiment made from mashed banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices. Its natural color is brownish-yellow, but it is often dyed red to resemble tomato ketchup. Banana ketchup was first produced in the Philippines during World War II, due to a lack of tomatoes and a comparatively high production of bananas.

Flavor and use

In Filipino households, this condiment is used on many assorted dishes: omelettes, hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, fish, charcoal-grilled pork barbecue and chicken skewers, fried chicken and other meats.
It is exported to countries and territories where there is a considerable Filipino population.

History

Filipina food technologist Maria Y. Orosa is credited with inventing a banana ketchup recipe.
In 1942, banana ketchup was first mass-produced commercially by Magdalo V. Francisco Sr., who founded the brand name Mafran which he registered with the Bureau of Patents. Francisco sought funding from Tirso T. Reyes to expand his business and thus, the Universal Food Corporation was formed 1960.
The ketchup factory is part of Anthony Bourdain’s Fremont.