Minatamis na Saging (Sweetened Bananas)

You would go bananas with this famous Filipino dessert. You only need three simple ingredients: saba bananas (cardava bananas), brown sugar, and water.

Sago and evaporated milk are optional, but if you have access to these ingredients, I urge you to use them as they add another layer of texture and flavor to this dessert!

Minatamis na saging if directly translated means “sweetened banana”. Basically, they are saba bananas cooked in sugar syrup.

They’re so quick and easy to make, no wonder it is one of the popular desserts in Philippines. You only need to put all the ingredients in a pot and wait for the saba bananas to soften, which should take about 20 minutes.

What kind of bananas to use

This recipe works best with saba bananas or sometimes called Cardava bananas. These bananas are short and fat, almost oval in shape.

I haven’t seen fresh ones here in Canada so I always buy the frozen ones from Asian supermarkets.

Ingredients

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 3 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 6 ripe saba bananas, cut each one into 3 parts diagonally
• 1 cup cooked sago / tapioca pearls (optional)
• evaporated milk

How to make

In a saucepan, add the brown sugar, water, and salt. Stir and let it boil until the sugar is dissolved.

Add the sliced bananas. Cover the pot and simmer for another 15 minutes, or until bananas are tender.

Turn off the heat and add the cooked sago/ tapioca pearls, if using.

Transfer in a container and let it cool in the fridge, about 2 hours.

How to serve

Minatmis na saging is most of the time served cold. Add shaved/ crushed ice, and a splash of evaporated milk.

I love eating this dessert on a hot summer day! Or if I’m going to make halo-halo, I use this minatamis na saging as one of the ingredients.