Fiji By Food Enthusiasts · 6 min read

National Dish Fiji: Banana and Honey Glazed Taro (Recipe)

Honey-glazed taro with fried banana slices and fresh mint

In this article

Bring a taste of the South Pacific to your table with Banana and Honey Glazed Taro, a wonderfully simple Fijian treat that pairs an earthy root vegetable with sweet, golden fruit. The mellow flavour of taro meets the honeyed richness of ripe bananas for a dish that feels both comforting and exotic. Quick to put together and naturally wholesome, it makes a lovely side or an easy snack whenever you fancy something a little different.

About Banana and Honey Glazed Taro

Banana and Honey Glazed Taro is a truly exotic dish that brings the flavours of Fiji straight to your plate. Taro, a marvellous starchy tuber, is a staple across Pacific cooking and is wonderfully nourishing too. The combination of the sweetness of ripe bananas with the distinctive, earthy taste of taro creates a flavour experience all of its own. This dish works beautifully as a side or as a light snack, and it could hardly be easier to make.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

2 small taro roots
2 ripe bananas
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon coconut oil
Pinch of salt
Fresh mint leaves, to garnish

Shopping for the ingredients

To make Banana and Honey Glazed Taro, start by gathering everything you need. Taro is available in many Asian or international grocery shops, and you may also find it at a local market. Make sure your bananas are nicely ripe, as this improves the flavour of the dish considerably. Choose a good-quality honey to bring out the natural sweetness at the heart of the recipe.

Preparing the dish

Before you begin cooking the Banana and Honey Glazed Taro, it is important to prepare all your ingredients well. Peel the taro roots and cut them into evenly sized pieces so they cook through at the same rate. The bananas should be sliced too. Have your coconut oil ready as well, since it adds a lovely island touch to the finished dish.

Step-by-step instructions

Bring the taro roots to the boil in a pan of water and cook for 20 minutes, until tender.
Drain the cooked taro pieces and set them aside in a bowl.
Heat the coconut oil in a frying pan and add the banana slices. Sauté briefly until golden brown.
Pour the honey over the cooked taro pieces and mix together well.
Arrange the fried bananas on a plate and spoon the glazed taro mixture on top.
Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve warm.

Gluten-free / lactose-free version

The ingredients for Banana and Honey Glazed Taro are naturally gluten-free and lactose-free, which makes the dish an ideal choice for anyone with these intolerances. Take care to choose a honey with no artificial additives. The result is a dish that is not only tasty but also wholesome and easy to digest, much like a comforting bowl of Coconut Tapioca Pudding.

Tips for vegans and vegetarians

For a vegan version, the honey can be swapped for agave syrup or maple syrup to keep the dish entirely plant-based. These alternatives add a similar sweetness that stays close to the original recipe. You could also scatter over chopped nuts or desiccated coconut as a garnish for extra texture and flavour. That way the dish remains a treat for vegetarians and vegans alike.

More tips and tricks

To make your Banana and Honey Glazed Taro even more interesting, try experimenting with warm spices such as cinnamon or nutmeg. These add an extra layer of flavour to the dish. It is also worth leaving the bananas in the pan a little longer to make them crisp and caramelised. Small adjustments like these can lift the dish to a whole new level.

Adapting the recipe to your taste

The recipe for Banana and Honey Glazed Taro is very flexible and can be tailored to your own taste. Add tropical fruits such as pineapple or mango, for instance, to create a fresher variation. Alternatively, try different sweeteners to fine-tune the flavour to your liking. Be creative and let your personal palate guide the dish — just as you would with a colourful Tropical Fruit Salad with Coconut Dressing.

Ingredient substitutions

If taro is hard to find, you can replace it with similar starchy tubers such as cassava or yuca. These have a comparable texture and are widely available in many regions. Instead of coconut oil you could use olive oil or butter, though the flavour will shift a little. The trick is to stay inventive in the kitchen and find alternatives that suit what you have to hand.

Drink pairing ideas

Tropical drinks such as pineapple or mango juice go beautifully with Banana and Honey Glazed Taro. A chilled cocktail or a fruity smoothie also makes an excellent companion — a creamy Coconut Banana Shake would be a natural match. For a less sweet option, choose an unsweetened herbal tea or sparkling water so as not to overpower the flavours of the dish. These combinations turn the meal into a rounded experience.

Serving and presentation ideas

Presentation plays an important role in the overall enjoyment of Banana and Honey Glazed Taro. Serve the dish in an attractive, wide bowl and decorate it with fresh mint leaves and perhaps a few edible flowers for a festive look. You might also dust the dish with a little desiccated coconut for extra texture and appeal. Creative serving touches help to underline the tropical aesthetic of the dish.

A bit of history

Banana and Honey Glazed Taro has its origins in traditional Fijian cooking, which makes use of a wide variety of tropical ingredients. Taro is regarded there as a staple food and is often prepared in family recipes. The emphasis on fresh, natural ingredients is a central part of Fijian culture — a culture marked by a deep respect for nature and the resources it provides, something clearly reflected in its food and in classics of Fijian cuisine such as Palusami.

More recipe ideas

Summary: Banana and Honey Glazed Taro

Banana and Honey Glazed Taro is not just a simple dish but a thoroughly delicious one that captures the essence of the Pacific way of life. With only a handful of easily sourced ingredients, you can conjure up an exotic flavour experience that works equally well as a side or a snack. Let the flavours of Fiji inspire you and give this lovely recipe a try, bringing a slice of tropical paradise to your table. It is a perfect addition to your everyday menu or a treat for special occasions.