Fiji By Food Enthusiasts · 5 min read

National Dish Fiji: Grilled Banana with Honey (Recipe)

Grilled bananas drizzled with honey and dusted with cinnamon

In this article

Bring a taste of the tropics to your own kitchen with Grilled Banana with Honey, a wonderfully simple yet utterly delicious treat from Fiji. Sweet, soft bananas meet the rich, golden warmth of honey, and a few minutes over the heat transform them into something gently caramelised and irresistible. Equally at home as a quick snack or a light pudding, it captures the easy-going, sun-soaked spirit of island cooking with the minimum of fuss.

About Grilled Banana with Honey

Grilled Banana with Honey is a simple but flavoursome dessert that carries the exotic flavours of Fiji straight into your home. The dish brings together the sweet, soft texture of banana with the rich taste of honey, and the result is a warm, caramelised delight that works equally well as a snack or a tempting pudding. It is the perfect way to round off the day with a touch of tropical flair, and it sits comfortably alongside other island sweets in the wider world of Fijian cuisine.

Ingredients (serves 1–2)

2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
A pinch of salt
A little butter or coconut oil for the grill

Shopping for the ingredients

You will find everything you need for grilled banana with honey at any supermarket or local market. Choose fresh, ripe bananas to enjoy the fullest flavour, and pick up a good-quality honey, as it has a real bearing on how the finished dish tastes. Cinnamon is optional, but it adds an interesting note that harmonises beautifully with the natural sweetness of the fruit.

Preparing the dish

A little preparation goes a long way before you start grilling. Slice the bananas lengthways but leave the skin intact, which keeps the fruit together over the heat. Adding the honey and cinnamon to the opened banana sets up an intense combination of flavours and encourages the caramelisation that happens on the grill. Remember to preheat your grill so you get the very best result.

Step-by-step instructions

Preheat the grill to a medium heat.
Slice the bananas lengthways without cutting through the skin.
Drizzle the honey over the exposed fruit and sprinkle over the cinnamon.
Brush the grill rack with a little butter or coconut oil.
Grill the bananas cut-side down for around 3–4 minutes.
Turn them carefully and grill on the skin side for a further 2–3 minutes.
Serve the bananas warm and enjoy!

Gluten-free / lactose-free version

Grilled banana with honey is naturally gluten-free and lactose-free. The ingredients contain no gluten, so anyone with an intolerance can enjoy the dish without worry. Be sure to choose a natural honey free from additives. This straightforward pudding therefore slots easily into almost any way of eating, much like a bowl of Coconut Tapioca Pudding.

Tips for vegans and vegetarians

For a vegan version, swap the honey for agave or maple syrup. It is a great alternative that keeps all the sweetness while leaving out anything animal-derived. Using a plant-based oil instead of butter for grilling is another easy switch. Grilled banana with honey turns into a fully plant-based treat with no trouble at all, and it remains every bit as delicious and satisfying.

More tips and tricks

When you make grilled banana with honey, a few small tweaks can lift the dish further. Scatter over chopped nuts or desiccated coconut as a topping for extra texture and flavour. You can also experiment with spices such as nutmeg or vanilla to discover your own signature touch. Let your creativity run free and enjoy the process of putting it together.

Adapting the recipe to your taste

Grilled banana with honey is wonderfully easy to tailor to personal preference. If you like things less sweet, reduce the honey or leave it out altogether. Alternatively, serve the bananas with a spoonful of tangy yoghurt or a fresh fruit sauce for a contrasting flavour. There is plenty of room for creative variation in the choice of fruit too, as long as you stick to the same tropical theme — a Tropical Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing makes a lovely companion.

Ingredient substitutions

If you have no fresh bananas to hand, you can use frozen bananas that have been thawed first. These have a sweeter taste, as they release more of their natural sugars as they defrost. You can also experiment with the sweetener — try fruity syrups or other natural sweeteners, for instance. Other fruits such as peaches or pineapple grill beautifully too and round out your tropical dessert perfectly, as you will find in Grilled Pineapple.

Drink pairing ideas

Tropical cocktails and fruity lemonades go wonderfully with grilled banana with honey. A freshly made pineapple juice or a mango lassi complements the sweet flavours beautifully. Alternatively, a cup of mint tea or a light white wine can round off the meal nicely. These drinks create a harmonious link between dish and glass and heighten that holiday feeling in your own kitchen.

Serving and presentation ideas

Presentation is key to doing the deliciousness of grilled banana with honey full justice. Serve the bananas on an attractive plate and decorate with fresh herbs or edible flowers. A final drizzle of honey over the top gives them a glossy, inviting sheen. With these touches you turn a simple dish into an eye-catching treat that looks lovely on any table.

A bit of history

The story of grilled banana with honey reaches back to the roots of Polynesian cooking. Fruits such as bananas are a staple of Fijian culture and have been enjoyed for centuries. The pairing of sweet bananas with honey reflects the local love of natural sweetness, and it is a popular choice at feasts and celebrations. This tradition has been handed down across generations and remains a firm part of Fijian island life.

More recipe ideas

Summary: Grilled Banana with Honey

In short, grilled banana with honey is a simple and tasty recipe that delights with its mellow banana and golden honey flavours. Perfect as a pudding or a snack, it brings the exotic spirit of Fiji straight into your kitchen. The easy preparation and the scope for adapting it make it a brilliant choice for any occasion. Let this dish inspire you and savour those warm, caramelised delights!