Banana Heart Burger made with shredded banana heart, eggs, flour and oyster sauce. Super moist and tasty, this vegetarian burger is a delicious and nutritious alternative to beef patties.
Today is Memorial Day and G and I will be hosting a small backyard bbq party complete with burgers, hot dogs and all the fixin’s late in the afternoon.
Along with the traditional beef burgers, I am also making this banana heart burger I first published here on Kawaling Pinoy in September 2014. A few of our friends who are joining in the fun are vegetarian and I am sure they’ll enjoy this interesting take on meatless burgers as much as I do.
On a side note, published in 2014! Wow, have I been blogging that long? Time sure flies when we’re having fun. 🙂
Banana heart is one vegetable I love to cook with. Not only is it relatively cheap, it’s also a versatile ingredient you can turn into many mouthwatering dishes such as kilawin or lumpia. Yet, versatile it may be, I was still understandably doubtful when I discovered a burger recipe which uses this tear-shaped vegetable for the patty.
Hamburgers are my kind of comfort food and I can have it for (or two) for lunch and dinner today and still want it for lunch and dinner the next day. But, it has to be meat! Thick, juicy quarter pounder beef patties, yes, please! Salmon, mushroom, and those vegan versions? Just won’t cut it. Or so I thought until this banana heart burger waltzed into my mouth and won my affections.
Super moist and tasty, this delectable banana heart burger just might drive old Macdonald out of the map. 🙂
Banana Heart Burger
Ingredients
- 1 medium banana heart
- oil
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
For the Burgers
- 4 hamburger buns
- 4 slices American cheese
- green leaf lettuce, leaves separated
- tomatoes, sliced thinly
- mayonnaise
- ketchup
Instructions
- Peel and discard the outer, fibrous skin layers of banana heart until you reach the lighter, softer core. Trim off the stem and discard. Cut banana core into half and slice thinly.
- In a bowl of cold salted water, place shredded banana heart and soak for about 15 to 20 minutes. Using hands, squeeze to release bitter sap. Rinse with cold water and with hands, squeeze well to dispel liquid.
- In a pan over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon oil. Add onions and cook until limp. Add banana heart and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through.
- Add oyster sauce and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue to simmer until liquid is mostly absorbed. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
- In a bowl, combine sauteed banana heart, flour, and eggs. Mix well. Form into 4 uniform-sized patties.
- In a pan over medium heat, heat about 2 tablespoons oil. Gently Add banana patties in a single layer and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden and firm. Remove from pan and drain on paper towels.
- Assemble burgers with desired condiments, veggie patty, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Annie says
March 22, 2018 at 9:13 amIn the 80’s pa gumagawa na ako ng banana heart burger. Marami sa Pampanga ng puso ng saging kaya you can be creative on what to cook with it. Pinaka favorite ko ang kilawing puso ng saging.
Gigi says
January 19, 2018 at 10:00 pmHi! Do you think I can do this in large batches and keep it in the freezer? Parang good idea kasi siya for baon and quick dinner.
Lalaine says
January 20, 2018 at 9:03 pmHello Gigi,
Unfortunately, I don’t think these banana heart burgers will keep well in the freezer. Although I haven’t tried it myself, I am worried the mixture will change color and darken. 🙁
Roeh pepino says
August 26, 2017 at 11:59 pmhello po may i ask somthing??? i mean personal talk po(chat), about the product, bcoz, i made my research paper about this food and along with the banana peel burger way back in 2010, i had the idea to make these 2 foods, and after 7 years im surprised to find these… where were you able to get this idea po?
Lalaine says
September 1, 2017 at 8:05 amHello Roeh,
Matagal ko na ginagawa ang banana burger. May natikman kasi akong mushroom burger so naisip ko gamitin ang banana heart. Ang ginagamit mo ay banana peel? Yung balat? Interesting! Dito kasi sa recipe yung mismong puso nang saging.
Rebecca says
December 7, 2017 at 2:11 pm@roeh pepino bata pa lang kami 1990s gumagawa na kami ng banana heart burger patties, it’s not exactly new so I don’t understand why you’re so surprised.
@ms lalaine your blog is fantastic and everything looks great! I’ve tried a couple of your recipes and they all turned out delicious! 🙂
Lalaine says
December 7, 2017 at 9:29 pmThank you, Rebecca!
ELlaine Cruz says
July 21, 2017 at 5:11 amAsk ko lang po how many calories ito per 4 servings? Anyways, loved it!
Lalaine says
July 21, 2017 at 4:43 pmHello Ellaine,
I am glad you like the burger. Unfortunately, the calorie count plug in I use is not able to calculate the nutritional info because banana heart is not in their database of ingredients. Masyado exotic 🙂
Mary Eileen Loscos says
May 7, 2016 at 1:36 amCan i freeze this before cooking? How long will the shelf life be if it’s frozen?
Lalaine says
May 7, 2016 at 1:41 amI don’t think this will freeze well as like regular bananas, the banana heart tends to darken, too.
Rio Francisco says
June 4, 2015 at 7:12 pmHi Ms. Lalaine, I’ve been following your blog since I stumbled on it last January.This is the first time na magcocomment po ako. I just love love love your blog. And your recipes? Amazing! So far, pinaka-favorite ko po itong Banana Heart Burger, I’ve made it at sinikreto ko sa mga anak ko na puso n saging ang main ingredient dito. Hehe. Anyway, my picky 9 year old kid na hindi talaga kumakain ng gulay (except for french fries at mashed potato ) naka-dalawang burger. My husband and my youngest loved it too, as for me nakatikim naman ako ng isa o dalawang kagat . It’s really good. Now they are requesting it as baon since pasukan na sa Monday dito. Also, I’m browsing your blog again (and again and again) for more lunch and baon ideas. Thank you so much! Please keep them coming.
Note: Namimiss ko po yung cursive writing style font nyo. I think it looks cool. Hehe!
Lalaine says
May 29, 2017 at 12:39 amThank you, Rio. Napasaya mo naman ako sobra sa comment mo. I am glad you’re enjoying the recipes. 🙂
edelweiza says
September 7, 2014 at 6:55 pmWhat a coincidence! Just the other day, my friend let me have a taste of her banana heart burger and it was very tasty (and meaty,too). Parang beef din talaga sya! 🙂