This vegan pulled pork made from banana peel is a perfect and delicious way to substitute actual pulled pork, or even shredded beef, for vegans and vegetarians. It looks very similar and you can season just how you like it. Don’t worry, it won’t have a sweet taste unless you want it to. Very easy and quick to prepare, it can be served with rice and salad, or you can use it fill sandwiches and arepas, anything you can think of.
Here I show you step by step, how to make it really easy and with just a few ingredients. Plus some very valuable tips, to do it right.
Shredded beef is an important part of the traditional food where I come from. When you become a vegetarian or a vegan that changes a lot and makes it more difficult for some people to keep their traditions so I’m doing my best to keep those traditions alive, for me and for all the people doing their best and reducing their meat consumption.
So I decided to find and try as many ways to make it as possible. And this is the first one.
Nutritional doubts
There is something REALLY important to mention and here it goes.
Even though it resemblances to the meat and it might even taste like it, however, and I can’t stress this enough, it DOES NOT replace the meat nutritionally speaking.
And I say this because I know a lot of people think that when WE (people inside the vegetarian or vegan community) name something “meat” or call it a “substitute”, we think it actually is the same when it’s not. And we don’t…. mostly.
But then again, that might be clear as the water for some of us while for some others, it’s not the case.
Video
If you are more visual and you like to follow the recipes with the help of videos, here is the link so you can see how to make this vegan pulled pork from banana peel!
How to make vegan pulled pork from banana peel – Step by step
STEP 1
Take the pre washed banana, peel the skin and cut the ends.
STEP 2
With the help of a spoon, scrape the inside of the banana skin to remove the banana leftovers along with its sweet taste.
Repeat this step with all the banana skins until finished
TIP: If you also don’t want to throw the insides away you can add them to your smoothie or milk shake
STEP 3
Take a fork and place it at the top of the banana skin and shred it applying just a little bit of pressure.
STEP 4
Separate the strips in case the fork didn’t tear the entire skin.
STEP 5
Cut them once or twice, just to make sure they’re not too long
NOTE: As you cut and handle the strips, they oxidize, making them look darker, which is completely normal.
In fact, I think this process gives the final touch to our dish and makes it look even better, more meat alike.
STEP 6
In a bowl mix the spices with the oil and the soy sauce to prepare the marinade.
STEP 7
Add the shredded strips and mix everything real nice so that all the flavor gets in there.
Let it marinate for about 5-10 minutes while we sauté the rest.
STEP 8
Chop the veggies into fine pieces and sauté them in the oil for a couple of minutes. Just until the onions are translucent.
STEP 9
You will know that they are ready when the onion turn to a yellowish color.
TIP: the more you cook the sauté them (without burning them) the softer and the more flavor it will add to this recipe.
STEP 10
Add the marinated banana peel and let it cook at medium heat for about 10 minutes.
Stir every 2 minutes to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pan and burn.
And there you have it!
Delicious vegan “pulled pork” to enjoy!
FAQ
How does the banana peel have to look like to make the vegan pulled pork right?
First, the banana that you are going to use has to be ripe.
That means you can use perfectly yellow banana or one full of bruises (black spots). This also applies for plantains.
What’s the difference between doing it with banana peel and plantain peel?
The plantain peel is harder and thicker therefore so are the stripes, despite the fact that we scrape them, so the only difference you should take into account is to cook the whole thing a couple of minutes more so that it softens well.
On the other hand, the banana peel is thinner. So, the riper the banana is, the finer the stripes will be, and therefore less vegan pulled pork at the end.
It is also a fact that the plantain is usually larger than the banana, so the banana peel will result in less amount of stripes than the plantain.
How long can I store the banana peel before I use it and how?
Unless you eat 3 bananas or plantains a day, you will probably have to wait a couple of days before you can gather enough peels to cook them.
That is why I recommend keeping the banana peel for a maximum of 5 days in the refrigerator, in an airtight container. Due to oxidation it will get a dark brown color but nothing happens, if anything, as I explain below in the TIPS, it is a good thing for the recipe.
You can shred the banana peel into stripes and store them like this, or even leave them already marinating so that when you cook them there’s not much left to do.
For how long can I store this vegan pulled pork in the fridge?
After having followed all the steps and having prepared your vegan pulled pork, I recommend keeping it for 3-4 days max, in an airtight container and away from moisture.
How can I eat this vegan pulled pork?
That’s very simple.
If it’s for lunch you can serve it with rice and salad as if it were actual pulled pork or even shredded beef. Although, always keep in mind that it does NOT substitute the protein value of the meat. If it is for breakfast or dinner you could fill a sandwich, make a wrap or a stuffed arepa, everything is possible!
TIPS & RECOMENDATIONS
BANANA PEEL HYGIENE
It is important to note that the bananas / plantains to be used for this recipe MUST be organic, or better said, pesticide-free.
HOWEVER, with so many stamps and laws and even depending on the country this may not be guaranteed.
To be safe, you can simply leave the peel soaking in vinegar water for a couple of minutes and then run it through tap water to remove the strong flavor of the vinegar.
MORE “MEATY” APPEARANCE
I’ve found that leaving the banana peel (whole or already in strips) 1-2 days in the refrigerator darkens them quickly. By doing this, the end result will have that brownish color that meat usually has.
If you are looking to replace pulled pork or shredded beef in every possible way it is worth the wait. Although always remember to take into account the oldest banana peel so that you don’t leave it there for more than 5 days.
SEASON TO YOUR TASTE
This recipe is just one of the MANY ways you can prepare vegan pulled pork. For me, the more veggies the better, but if you don’t like it so much you can make it with spices and nothing else.
Personally I think that the sauté veggies give much more flavor and also make volume.
YOU MUST TRY THE “PELÚA” – VENEZUELAN AREPA
“Pelúa”, this is the name given to a popular arepa that is stuffed with shredded beef and grated yellow cheese.
If you are a vegetarian, making this vegan recipe is enough, but if you are vegan you need a substitute for yellow cheese.
If by any chance you live in Germany, like me there is one you can find in most supermarkets from brand Veganz. It comes as a whole piece that you can easily grate. It is a delight (Unfortunately, I’m not paid for this)
THIS RECIPE IS:
- Vegan
- Gluten free
- Soy free
- Rich in fiber
- Super affordable
- Zero waste
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Vegan pulled pork / shredded beef from banana peel
Difficulty: Easy2
servings15
minutes10
minutesThis vegan pulled pork made from banana peel is a perfect and delicious way to substitute actual pulled pork, or even shredded beef, for vegans and vegetarians. It looks very similar and you can season just how you like it. Don’t worry, it won’t have a sweet taste unless you want it to. Very easy and quick to prepare, it can be served with rice and salad, or you can use it fill sandwiches and arepas, anything you can think of.
Ingredients
3 banana peels from ripe bananas
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp sweet paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cumin
1 cup onion
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/4 cup leek
2 cloves of garlic
steps
- Take the prewashed banana, peel the skin and cut the ends.
- With the help of a spoon, scrape the inside of the banana skin to remove the banana leftovers along with its sweet taste.
- Take a fork and place it at the top of the banana skin and shred it applying just a little bit of pressure.
- Separate the strips in case the fork didn’t tear the entire skin. Then, cut them once or twice, just to make sure they’re not too long
- In a bowl mix the spices with the oil and the soy sauce to prepare the marinate.
- Add the shredded strips and mix everything real nice so that all the flavor gets in there.
Let it marinate for about 5-10 minutes while we sauté the rest.
- Chop the veggies into fine pieces and sauté them in the oil for a couple of minutes. Just until the onions are translucent.
- Add the marinated banana peel and let it cook at medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir every 2 minutes to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pan and burn.
And there you have it!
Delicious vegan “pulled pork” to enjoy!
Video de la receta
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