Hate pineapple on pizza? Consider the banana

August 29, 2024 by
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The question of whether pineapple belongs on pizza can spark heated arguments. But if you think that pineapple has no place on pizza, there’s another tropical fruit you may consider an even less worthy ingredient: banana. Banana pizza is popular, at least in Sweden, where it is usually paired with curry spices. Smithsonian Magazine traces the history of this unusual sweet and spicy combination.

While the pairing may seem strange out of context, it makes more sense when you consider the fascination with Polynesian culture that flourished in Sweden and other parts of the world in the post-WWII era. Tropical fruits became more readily available and diners were eager to find ways to use them. Richard Tellström, a food historian at Stockholm University, thinks banana curry pizza was likely developed in the late 1970s or early 1980s, following on the heels of pineapple pizza, which came about in the 1970s.

Despite the pizza’s alleged popularity in Sweden, there are no recipes for banana curry pizza in the EYB Library, nor is there any for the hotdish/casserole recipe named Flying Jacob, another popular Swedish dish that pairs these flavors. There are, however, many other recipes that combine bananas and curry, like the Banana curry with cashew rice from The Guardian Cook supplement by Rose Elliot pictured above. One of my favorite banana recipes is a dessert (that may be from Cooking Light although I can’t confirm) that combined bananas and currants in a cream cheese-based sauce flavored with curry powder, ginger, and lime juice. The combination works there, although I’m not fully convinced about it on pizza. What do you think?

Category: Antipasto

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10 Comments

  • ccav  on  August 30, 2024

    I am not fond of bananas to begin with so would not try. That said, I can imagine them being a good counterpoint to a sharp/peppery pizza.

  • janecooksamiracle  on  August 30, 2024

    I’ve just seen an ad. For pizza with pretzel ? topping !

  • Foodycat  on  August 30, 2024

    When I was at university in Brisbane in the 90s, there was a pizza restaurant called the Kookaburra Cafe, which made an absolutely delicious bacon, banana and chilli pizza.

  • lean1  on  August 30, 2024

    bananas on pizza gross!

  • Rinshin  on  August 30, 2024

    Love of bananas by Swedes in their cooking is like the love of spam in Hawaii, Korea, Guam and Philippines after WW II.

    Bananas and curry sauce on pizza dough does not sound good to me, but out of curiosity I will try it if offered.

  • Kinhawaii  on  August 31, 2024

    How does it not turn to mush? Does it carmelize? I would think that the curry overpowers the banana & just tastes like a sweet curry?

  • FuzzyChef  on  September 2, 2024

    A Brazillian “four seasons” pizza I had once was quarters of bananas, sausage, peppers, and hearts of palm. While I found the bananas bland, they weren’t bad.

  • Dripping  on  September 2, 2024

    I was given a homemade scone base pizza including banana, underneath the other toppings, by a Swedish colleague in late 1990’s. It was not pizza as we know it but tasted fine.
    More modern recipe https://foodbydrygast.com/sv/recipe/pizza_banana_curry
    Now as a Brit living in Sweden I have also tried kebab pizza. It’s donner meat on a pizza. It is fairly odd with the italian tomato sauce. Sometimes there is yogurt based kebab sauce and pickle chilli (feferoni).
    As long as you don’t expect it to be anything like italian pizza it’s ok I guess?
    If you visit Sweden and want italian pizza, find wood fired baked, sourdough, neapolitan expert place. The great pizza places don’t have kebab or banana on any of their pizza’s.

  • Jane  on  September 3, 2024

    I asked a Swedish friend about bananas on pizza and she confirmed it. She also said a popular topping on pizza is steak with béarnaise sauce which also sounds odd to me.

  • Mrs. L  on  September 3, 2024

    Since I see nothing wrong with pineapple on pizza (and it is one of my favorites) I’d be willing to give Bananas a try lol

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