Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas  - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (2024)

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Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (1)

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Get ready for a yummy banana peel recipe. Banana peel carnitas are spiced with delicious herbs, spices, and citrus. Tasty and easy to make, carnitas are perfect in tacos, burrito bowls, or taco salads. This recipe will make you rethink banana peels forever!

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (2)

Can you eat banana peels?

Yep. I wouldn’t be writing this blog post if you couldn’t. Before you think I’m totally insane for creating a banana peel recipe, let me just say, I was completely skeptical too. I actually created this recipe as part of a personal challenge I was undertaking for Earth Day 2021 (watch the video below). I’d seen banana peel recipes on Instagram, and was not at all interested. But knowing that food waste is just plain bad for Mother Earth, and a third of food available in the United States goes to waste––not including waste products like banana peels––I knew I had to give it a go.

It doesn’t taste like banana

Banana peels don’t taste like banana, they don’t taste much like anything, but they do have a chewy slightly meaty texture when cooked.

Eating banana peels is by no means a new trend. Actually, cultures around the world have eaten the banana peel for generations in everything from chutneys to curries to a Brazilan “meat” called casca louca de banana.

Now that I’ve eaten banana peels, I’m annoyed that I wasted the peel for all these years. Banana peels are an edible part of the fruit that we waste. And with every banana peel that is thrown into the garbage or compost, we’re wasting nutrients and money.

If you’re not ready to eat the banana peel, check out my list of other ways to use this valuable food “scrap, below.

Why you should eat banana peels

  • Save valuable produce from ending up in the landfill
  • They’re nutritious
  • Can be used in many recipes and cuisine types, sweet and savory
  • Prepared well, are delicious and have a nice, almost meaty texture
  • A budget friendly meat substitute

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (3)

Banana peel nutrition

Banana peels, like the skins of many fruits, are very nutrient dense. They contain additional fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and magnesium. Bananas and banana peels also contain tryptophan which may help improve your mood.

Bananas are sprayed with pesticides, so be sure to wash the fruit well with a mild natural soap and water before consuming. You can also buy organic bananas, though you should wash those too.

Bananas peels are difficult to eat raw, slightly bitter, and contain a latex on the inside of the peel. When you cook banana peels you soften the skin and remove the bitterness.

If you have a latex allergy, banana skins may not be for you.

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (4)

How do you prepare a banana peel?

As you see in my video, there is a little preparation required before cooking the banana peel. If you’re making a smoothie or banana bread, you can blend the banana whole, without any preparation––aside from removing the tough ends.

If you are using banana peels in a recipe, you should use a spoon to scrape out the inner flesh stuck to the skin.

For this banana peel carnitas recipe, I use a fork to shred the peel. This takes a little time, but it’s quite easy.

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (5)

What else can you do with banana peels?

Before we get to my carnitas recipe, I’d like to lay out a few other ways you can use banana peels. Leave a comment below to let me know if you’ve tried any of these!

  • Add to smoothie
  • Add to banana bread. Blend the whole ripe banana (cut off hard ends), and add to recipe like you normally would.
  • Fertilize your plants with minced banana peel––bury in the soil of outdoor plants––or banana peel water––soak banana peels in water overnight and use.
  • Rub the inner part of the peel on your skin to stop itching, lighten scars, and treat acne
  • Whiten your teeth by rubbing the inner part of the peel on your teeth daily
  • Candied with sugar
  • Add to homemade granola

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (6)

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Notes on this banana peel recipe

Use yellow bananas that are not fully ripened for this recipe. There should be a little bit of green at the ends, but the whole banana should not be green.

You have to open 4-6 bananas to make this carnitas banana peel recipe. Freeze the flesh or use it to bake something right away. Frozen bananas are great for adding to smoothies, or making Banana Nice Cream.

The flesh scraped off of the banana peel can be added to a smoothie or oatmeal. Just be sure to use it right away, because it will oxidize and turn dark grey/brown.

Accumulated banana peels can stay fresh in the fridge for about 24 hours before oxidizing too much, and becoming difficult to shred.

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (7)

Banana Peel Carnitas

Jenné

Use yellow bananas with green-ish tips for this recipe. Overripe bananas are not a good option. Save those for banana bread (yes, you can add the skin).

4.53 from 55 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 2

Ingredients

  • 6 banana peels
  • 2 tbsp grapeseed oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper seeded & minced
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup orange juice from 1 fresh orange
  • 1-2 tbsp fresh lime juice
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or liquid aminos

Instructions

  • Remove both ends––the stem and the bottom–– from the banana.

  • Use a spoon to scoop the fibrous flesh from the inner part of each banana peel.

  • Use a fork to shred the peel into long strips.

  • Warm a large pot over medium heat, and add oil. Once the oil is warm add the onions, garlic, and jalapeño pepper. Sauté until onions are soft.

  • Add the banana peel, followed by the oregano, cumin, sea salt, and pepper. Stir well.

  • Squeeze the orange into the pot (being careful to catch any seeds), along with soy sauce then stir again.

  • Bring to a simmer on medium-low heat, and cover the pot. Cook for about 30 minutes, or until the banana peels are tender and tasty. Season to taste with more soy sauce or sea salt if needed.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Banana Peel Recipe | Vegan Carnitas  - Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne (2024)

FAQs

Why you should eat banana peels? ›

Banana Peel Benefits

May help reduce the risk of cancer: Banana peels provide polyphenols, carotenoids and other antioxidants that can help fight free radicals that may lead to cancer. Eye health: Banana peels provide vitamin A, which is needed for eye health.

Is banana peel pulled pork good? ›

In fact, you can eat apple cores and kiwi skins, use orange peels for garnish, and yes, even chow down on banana peels. Given the proper application of heat, sauce and spices, these oft-discarded skins make a pretty darn good plant-based substitute for barbecue pulled-pork sandwiches.

What does a banana peel taste like? ›

Banana peels are typically tough and bitter. As a banana ripens, the peel becomes thinner and sweeter. This makes it easier to cook or bake with. Once you've chosen a nice, ripe banana, cut off the thick stem and you're ready to go.

What nutrients are in banana skins? ›

Banana peel is abundant in total dietary fiber, crude protein, carbohydrates (cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and lignin), minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium), amino acids (leucine, threonine valine, and phenylalanine), and polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (Azarudeen & ...

What are the disadvantages of eating banana peel? ›

While this shouldn't be a concern if you only eat fruit, be careful when eating the peel. Pesticide exposure can have adverse health effects and increase the risk of diseases such as autism, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and dementia.

What happens if we rub banana peel on face daily? ›

Bananas may have some skin benefits – Bananas do contain beneficial antioxidants like vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. And the inside of the peel contains lutein, which may hydrate, brighten, and soothe skin. So rubbing it on your face probably provides some nourishment.

What is the best liquid to keep pulled pork moist? ›

Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot. To add a strong flavor during the process, white wine can also be sprayed.

What is the secret to pulled pork? ›

Low and Slow

After achieving a beautiful, deep brown sear, lower the heat to 325 to allow the pork to become tender. The shoulder will cook in its own juices, creating deeply savory and succulent meat. Covering the meat keeps the moisture internal, resulting in the perfect bite.

Why is pulled pork not shredding? ›

The kind of meat you're smoking will influence the texture of your shreds. Pork shoulder and butt contain tons of fat that keeps the meat juicy and soft when cooking. Your meat could not shred properly if you attempted to smoke a leaner cut, such as tenderloin. The issue of the meat bark is another issue.

Is it OK to eat a whole banana peel? ›

Bananas are sweet, soft fruits popular all over the world. Their thick, fibrous peels, however, are a less popular source of nutrition, at least in Western countries. But contrary to what many people believe, banana peels are not only safe to eat, they also offer a number of health benefits.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Can dogs eat a banana peel? ›

Banana peels aren't toxic to dogs, but they are hard to digest because of the highly concentrated amount of fiber. Consuming a banana peel may cause vomiting from your dog, or in some cases, the peel might cause an intestinal blockage. Bottom line: Don't give your dog banana peels on purpose.

Are bananas OK to eat every day? ›

"For a generally healthy person, it is unlikely to experience hyperkalemia by eating one banana a day, especially if the rest of their diet isn't excessively high in potassium-rich foods," said Manaker. So yes, a banana a day is most likely safe.

Is it good to eat a banana everyday? ›

Eating one banana per day is a healthy option. But since most of the calories in bananas come from carbs, eating too many bananas may result in high sugar intake, which could lead to high blood pressure.

How many bananas can you eat a day? ›

How many bananas a day should you eat? While there's no strict rule, it's best not to eat more than one or two bananas a day. Eating more could lead to weight gain, as they contain both carbohydrates and sugar. Ensure you're eating a balanced diet by including a range of fresh fruits and vegetables.

How safe is it to eat banana peels? ›

Eating a banana peel is generally considered safe, but it may not be very pleasant due to its tough and fibrous texture. Banana peels are edible and contain some nutrients, such as dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but they also contain compounds that can have a bitter taste and may not be very palatable.

Why you should not throw away banana peels? ›

Banana peels are not typically thrown away like other fruit peels because they can be used for a variety of purposes, such as in gardening, cleaning and cooking. Gardening: Banana peels contain potassium and phosphorous, which are essential nutrients for plants.

Is the banana peel more nutritious than the banana? ›

Dole scientists have also found the peels are very nutrient-dense containing 2.3 times the fiber, 2.4 times the beta-carotene and 8.4 times the calcium of regular banana flesh. While it's okay to add a bit of banana peel to smoothies and juices, they're not exactly tasty, plus latex content raises issues.

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