Akwadu Recip: Baked Caramelised Banana with Coconut – Equatorial Guinea

This easy technique for caramelising bananas involves sprinkling banana halves with coconut oil, coconut sugar, spices and lemon juice and baking them in the oven until golden, then topping with toasted coconut flakes. This akwadu recipe makes for a quick, easy and delish sweet treat!

Country Number 55: Equatorial Guinea

The West African country of Equatorial Guinea may be rather small in land mass, but geographically, it is very diverse. The country’s 28,000 square kilometres area is comprised of both a mainland region and an insular region, which consists of the islands of Biko, the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón, a small volcanic island south of the equator. Formerly, the country was a colony of Spain and was called Spanish Guinea, until it achieved independence in 1968. Again, this is one of those countries that we knew nothing about before beginning this challenge. It is cool to think that by the end of cooking our way through 196 countries, we will know at least one or two facts about every country in the world (and hopefully, if you’ve been following along, so will you)!

History of Equatorial Guinea Cuisine

The cuisine of Equatorial Guinea is rooted in the ingredients and cooking methods of native tribes. However, it was inevitably influenced by Spanish colonisation, and now even most restaurants in Equatorial Guinea serve Spanish cuisine. Cocoa and coffee make up two of the country’s key exports. Other local crops include a lot of starchy vegetables such as plantains, sweet potato, cassava and yam, which are a staple in most meals. Fruits such as mangos and bananas are commonly eaten. The cuisine incorporates various meats, including bushmeats, fish, chicken and snails. Although not a huge amount of meat is eaten throughout the country, traditional dishes that are entirely vegetarian also seem rather limited. Peanuts are the most common source of plant-based protein.

Popular Equatorial Guinea Vegetarian Dishes

  • Corn succotash– A dish made of corn, lima beans, tomatoes which are seasoned with various spices
  • Akwadu– Banana baked with coconut and flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg
  • Malamba juice– Local sugar cane brew

Vegetarian rating of Equatorial Guinea Cuisine:

Making Baked Caramelised Banana (Akwadu)

Admittedly, we were rather limited on vegetarian dishes we could make for Equatorial Guinea, which is why we ended up going for this baked banana recipe, or Akwadu, as it is known in Equatorial Guinea. This won’t be the first time we have made a banana recipe for an African country. In fact, we actually made these baked bananas as an accompaniment to our banana fritters from Djibouti.

How to make Baked Caramelised Banana (Akwadu)

These baked caramelised bananas are quick and easy to make, requiring very little prep!

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking tray.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together coconut sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  3. Cut each banana in half lengthwise with the skins on. Score the flesh of each half in 1cm increments. Place them on the lined baking sheet. Pour the coconut oil on top of the bananas, then squeeze lemon over the top. Sprinkle with the sugar and spice mixture.
  4. Cook the bananas for 15 minutes or until caramelising and turning golden.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Ingredient notes for Baked Caramelised Banana

  • Bananas- The great thing about caramelised bananas is you can use bananas of any ripeness. The riper the banana, the sweeter the final product will be, however even bananas on the less ripe side of the spectrum will turn soft and sweet.
  • Coconut sugar- You can substitute brown sugar instead of coconut sugar, however we found the slightly nutty, caramelly taste of the coconut sugar works well with this recipe.

Serving suggestions for Akwadu

You can served these baked caramelised bananas with yogurt, ice cream, pancakes, waffles, porridge… the list is endless! We served ours with our healthy banana fritters, date caramel sauce and a generous blob of coconut yogurt.

Other banana dishes to try

Baked Caramelised Banana (Akwadu)- Equatorial Guinea

Baked Caramelised Banana (Akwadu)- Equatorial Guinea

Yield: 2
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

This easy technique for caramelising bananas involves sprinkling banana halves with coconut oil, coconut sugar, spices and lemon juice and baking them in the oven until golden, then topping with toasted coconut flakes. They make for a quick, easy and delish sweet treat!

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 2 bananas
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 1/2 lemon, juiced
  • Desiccated coconut, toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking tray.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together coconut sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
  3. Cut each banana in half lengthwise with the skins on. Score the flesh of each half in 1cm increments. Place them on the lined baking sheet.
  4. Pour the coconut oil on top of the bananas, then squeeze lemon over the top. Sprinkle with the sugar and spice mixture.
  5. Cook the bananas for 15 minutes or until caramelising and turning golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with toasted coconut. Serve on top of porridge, with pancakes, or as a standalone snack.

Did you make this recipe?

Leave a comment & review above or share a photo on Instagram tagging @polkadotpassport so I can reshare your creations!

For more recipes from Africa:

Liked this akwadu recipe? Pin it for later!

Nicola Easterby Bio Image

Hey, I'm Nicola!

I am a travel and food content creator on a mission to discover the best destinations & dishes around the world. Thanks for joining the adventure!

READ NEXT:

Sticky Toffee Pudding Gingerbread Cake

Sticky Toffee Pudding Gingerbread Cake

What do you get when you combine sticky toffee pudding with gingerbread and add cream cheese icing? The ultimate festive cake! If you're looking for a cozy festive dessert, look no further than this sticky toffee pudding gingerbread cake. This cake is moist, rich and...

read more
Raw Snickers Slice (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

Raw Snickers Slice (Vegan + Gluten-Free)

If you are looking for a vegan/ gluten-free alternative to a Snickers bar, you need to try my raw Snickers slice. It's layered with peanut butter mousse, caramel and chocolate and is truly delectable! This raw Snickers slice is my GO-TO when I am craving something to...

read more
Pönnukökur: Icelandic Pancakes Recipe

Pönnukökur: Icelandic Pancakes Recipe

Pönnukökur, or Icelandic pancakes, are thin, crepe-like pancakes filled with thick, creamy skyr yogurt and topped with fresh berries. You need to try this healthy & delicious breakfast from Iceland! Almost every country in the world seems to have a version of...

read more

READ NEXT:

Our Dream South of France Wedding

Our Dream South of France Wedding

This is what it looks like to have a 3-day wedding in the South of France! On the 23rd of August 2023, James and I finally got to have the wedding celebration of our dreams. We had sixty of our nearest and dearest flying from all over the world to join us for three...

read more
The Ultimate Packing Guide for Your New York City Getaway

The Ultimate Packing Guide for Your New York City Getaway

Heading to New York City? With its iconic skyline, vibrant neighborhoods, and endless sights to explore, NYC is a dream destination. But packing for a city that never sleeps can be challenging—you’ll need a mix of style, comfort, and versatility to make the most of...

read more
Best ESim for Traveling Turkey in 2024

Best ESim for Traveling Turkey in 2024

Planning a trip to Turkey? This guide will take you through everything you need to know about using an eSIM and my recommendation for the best eSIM for traveling Turkey. Gone are the days of having to find a local phone store and buy a physical sim card when visiting...

read more
4 Best Ways to Explore Local Cuisine on Your Travels

4 Best Ways to Explore Local Cuisine on Your Travels

Traveling opens up a world of new cultures, and one of the most delightful ways to immerse yourself is through food. It’s not just about indulging in traditional dishes; it’s also about unearthing those hidden gems where locals dine and dodging the tourist traps. Here...

read more
Skip to Recipe