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Guineo en Escabeche

A traditional Panamanian dish — Guineo en Escabeche is a tangy, cold side dish of boiled green bananas bathed in a vinegar marinade with onions, sweet peppers and garlic.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 20 minCook time
🍽 6Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Guineo en Escabeche

A traditional Panamanian dish — Guineo en Escabeche is a tangy, cold side dish of boiled green bananas bathed in a vinegar marinade with onions, sweet peppers and garlic. The escabeche technique came to Panama with Spanish and Caribbean cooks, and the dish is a fixture at fiestas, where it sits proudly beside the roast meats. Chilled overnight, the bananas drink up the marinade and turn irresistibly tart and garlicky.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Boil the bananas in salted water until just tender, about 15 minutes; the skins will darken, which is normal.
  2. Drain, let cool slightly, then peel and slice into rounds about ¾ inch thick.
  3. Warm the vinegar, oil, bay leaves, peppercorns, oregano and salt in a saucepan over low heat for 3 minutes; add the onion, bell pepper and garlic and simmer 2 more minutes.
  4. Combine the banana slices and olives, if using, in a glass bowl and pour the hot marinade over them.
  5. Cool, cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, turning once.
  6. Serve chilled as a side to roasted or fried meats.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The bananas should be cooked until tender but still hold their shape. Taste after a few hours and add vinegar or salt to balance — escabeche should be assertively tangy.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook20 min
Servings6
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →