You like pizza. You like bananas. So you are bound to like...

November 15, 2018 12:07 AM

Banana, peanuts, mushrooms and curry powder on a pizza? It's maybe not everyone's can of pineapple (previously) or tin of Dr. Pepper flavored baked beans, though some like banana topping occasionally in Plymouth, with blue cheese in Iceland or nutella in Belfast or chilies and bell peppers in India or with dulce de leche and caramel popcorn in Adelaide. The taste test? "This is like someone forced a smoothie on a pizza." Best covered in coleslaw and eaten on a plate with a knife and fork. But hey, healthy pizza such as Granola Crust Fruit Pizza is good for you so maybe switch? The future of hot dogs? Recipe for Mini Fruit Pizza. (also previously, some New Yorkers have opinions)
posted by Wordshore (56 comments total)

I've had banana paired with curry spices such as ras el hanout, or coriander/tamarind in a couple of Western dessert recipes, maybe there's an Asian or Middle Eastern origin to such sweet-savory dishes? Or maybe in these cases it's just French chefs doing French things.
posted by polymodus at 12:21 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

The only suppliers of banana pizza (actually banana and chilli) in the last town I lived in were Turkish, but I never had the nerve to enquire where this abomination on their menu had originated from.
posted by Vortisaur at 12:42 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Maybe some chef ran out of plantains, and decided to be creative.
posted by polymodus at 12:48 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

I've had apple pizza in Japan, it was actually pretty good for a dessert. Of course, here, there's all sorts of localised novelty options, from rendang pizza or satay pizza, which basically seems to be running on the logic of 'what's a dish we like, and what if we eat them on bread and cheese?' which isn't such a bad starting point. Although this new hipster joint in my city has a mandarin orange + roast duck pizza that sounds interesting enough to try.
posted by cendawanita at 12:58 AM on November 15, 2018 [8 favorites]

It's maybe not everyone's can of pineapple (previously)

Breaking news on this story: Iceland's president admits he went 'too far' with threat to ban pineapple pizza
posted by J.K. Seazer at 1:11 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I just love that even after all these years of Internet, africana still gets first mention on lists of weird pizzas.

But I’m troubled when I visit Sweden because I usually only have time for one pizza, and it’s so hard to choose between the delicious africana, always fresh on my mind due to posts like this, and Sweden’s national dish — the kebab pizza

Edit: Oh my, I know what I’ll get next time: a kebab pizza, with extra banana and peanut toppings!!
posted by AxelT at 1:38 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

According to the guy in this interview, chili and bananas share aromatic compounds that make them a good pairing. I mean to try making this recipe for banana chili hot sauce sometime, just to see what that's like.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 3:51 AM on November 15, 2018 [6 favorites]

I had too many peaches a few moths ago so I put some on a pizza with summer sausage as a sort of Canadiian “Hawaiian”. Didn’t do much for my peach surplus problem but the pizza was pretty good.
posted by rodlymight at 3:55 AM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

Banana, bacon and cheese pizza was one of the most sublime food experiences I’ve ever had. The banana adds a wonderful creamy complimentary flavour. Try it!
posted by oulipian at 4:11 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'm ashamed of my country.
posted by Vesihiisi at 4:14 AM on November 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

Dr. Pepper flavored what now?
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:31 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Pepperoni. And. Cheese. Don't make me come over there.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 4:34 AM on November 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

The pizza was an Italian invention that they half-assed, and all the rest of the world has been independently fixing it in their own ways.
posted by groda at 5:01 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

this post is in violation of the collective punishment statutes of the geneva conventions
posted by poffin boffin at 5:17 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

STOP FUCKING WITH PIZZA
posted by agregoli at 5:31 AM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

Can we talk about pepperoni though? It's not the same everywhere. In Toronto it is flabby, and while I could have done without the grease puddle in each slice, in Boston it was crisp and spicy and delightful.

(I don't like cooked fruit to begin with, so leave me out of the bananas.)
posted by wellred at 5:42 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

this post is in violation of the collective punishment statutes of the geneva conventions

But in conformance with the Universal Declaration of Pizza Rights, which specifically states that people have an inalienable right to make whatever freaky pizzas they feel like eating, with freedom of ingredient association. No-one's making you eat a banana pizza, pb.

right?
posted by zamboni at 5:43 AM on November 15, 2018 [11 favorites]

> AxelT:
"I just love that even after all these years of Internet, africana still gets first mention on lists of weird pizzas.

But I’m troubled when I visit Sweden because I usually only have time for one pizza, and it’s so hard to choose between the delicious africana, always fresh on my mind due to posts like this, and Sweden’s national dish — the kebab pizza

Edit: Oh my, I know what I’ll get next time: a kebab pizza, with extra banana and peanut toppings!!"

I had to do some Googling, but that africana (albeit without shrimp - allergies) sounds quite good!
posted by Samizdata at 6:04 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

I always know a Wordshore post before I see the byline.

When I lived in Finland I noticed (1) the pizza was atrocious, like canned baking powder biscuits topped with unflavored tomato paste and government cheese, but (2) more interestingly, the thing they called American pizza was what most Americans would call Hawaiian pizza, and what they called Hawaiian pizza was Hawaiian pizza with extra blue cheese. I would not really say that ham and pineapple suits the median American palette.
posted by eirias at 6:06 AM on November 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

My one real texture thing is hating cooked bananas. I'm fine with okra, so I can handle slime in general, but the combination of slimy and mushy texture with the taste of cooked banana -- nope, can't do it.

But I'm in favor of the full pizza Geneva rights, where people can put on whatever disgusting taste/texture combination floats their boat. As long as everyone is a consenting adult, more power to them.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:17 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Pie Pineapple Apple Pie
posted by Kabanos at 6:22 AM on November 15, 2018 [7 favorites]

Okay, is it weird to anyone else to call a random collection of foods mainly found in the global southeast an "africana" pizza? It seems like calling a pizza with, I dunno, brie, beets, mushrooms and prosciutto on a sofrito base the "european" pizza, only slightly more dubious because of the whole tendency to assume that "Africa" is, like, a country.

I would eat a banana and curry pizza, if it were called a banana and curry pizza.
posted by Frowner at 6:24 AM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

Aren't other varieties of banana commonly used in curries and stews in some places?

I think maybe just the way you can see the ingredients separately and they don't necessarily all mix their flavours together into the overall dish with pizza gets people worked up over combinations that would seem fine in other foods.
posted by AnhydrousLove at 6:33 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Aren't other varieties of banana commonly used in curries and stews in some places?

Those would be green bananas -- so starchy, not sweet, more or less equivalent to a potato, and they don't get all gross and mushy when they are cooked.
posted by Dip Flash at 6:39 AM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

There are lots of different banana cultivars, some of which I wouldn't be at all shocked to find on pizza.

I actually feel like I'd probably prefer a riper plantain on pizza - they get this sweet/sour thing that's quite nice. I don't tend to prefer starchy pizza toppings (e.g. thin-sliced potato, which isn't uncommon in Italy), and I don't particularly care for mofongo-type dishes.
posted by aspersioncast at 6:52 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

oh no i just thought about a pizza with a crunchy tostone crust and i am excited
posted by poffin boffin at 7:09 AM on November 15, 2018 [6 favorites]

Pizza is almost universally disappointing in Sweden if you're expecting proper Neapolitan pizza. The thin, tasteless wet crust and low-quality ingredients which are the staple of most pizza places have forced me to adapt expectations and allow "Swedish Pizza" to be its own new food category, not unlike Tex-Mex or Chinese-American food. From this perspective Afrikanas are one of the least soul-crushing offerings on the menu and almost palatable: the curry, banana and peanuts complement each other well enough. At least shrimp is not being paired with gouda.

Truly though, the most bizarre offering I've seen on a pizzeria menu in Sweden is a "Shalom" pizza at Babylon pizza in Nora, featuring ham, ground pork, mushrooms and onions.
posted by St. Oops at 7:13 AM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

Also: allow "Swedish Pizza" to be its own new food category, not unlike Tex-Mex or Chinese-American food.

It definitely is - there's a longstanding local restaurant here that specifically does 'swedish pizza'. They don't call the banana pizza the Africana tho, probably realised it wasn't the best idea....
posted by cendawanita at 7:26 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

And Swedish Pizza is absolutely ubiquitous in this sparsely-populated and remote outpost of a country. This is not hyperbole: if you are traveling anywhere at all away from population centers and do not have access to your own kitchen facilities, you will be eating a lot of Swedish Pizza. Perhaps nothing but, for days on end. Bear in mind when planning any future bikepacking adventure ditch your camping stove at your peril.
posted by St. Oops at 7:46 AM on November 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

In Norway they were shocked when I didn't ask for/use any ketchup along with my pizza...
posted by Grither at 7:48 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

I am seeing with my pizza third eye a pizza like fidgit pie, somewhat. Thin, whole grain crust, thin sliced apples rolled in cinnamon, a surface sauce of honey mustard glaze, excellent ham, shaved organic celery, onions, chili flakes, and feta cheese. That sounds like breakfast or midnight snack for a week.

I see another pizza, same whole grain crust with honey mustard glaze. Salmon chunks, capers, fine chopped kosher pickle, onions, fresh chopped dill lightly coated with lemon mayonnaise; then put on the pie. All this topped with havarti.

For the courageous, same thin, whole grain crust with honey mustard glaze, shredded braunschweiger, with grapefruit pieces, feta, and grated Leydener cheese on top.

The crust is just a vehicle much cheaper than Uber.
posted by Oyéah at 8:05 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

First Flying Jacob and now this. i cant say my culinary interest in a trip to sweden has been piqued.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:05 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

if you are traveling anywhere at all away from population centers and do not have access to your own kitchen facilities, you will be eating a lot of Swedish Pizza

And you will be served Obligatory Swedish Pizza Salad with it. I.e. shredded cabbage with vinegar.

As simple as it sounds, I've never been able to reproduce its delicious flavor at home.
posted by Vesihiisi at 8:06 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

if you are traveling anywhere at all away from population centers and do not have access to your own kitchen facilities, you will be eating a lot of Swedish Pizza

This used to be true, but I'd say that every small Swedish town has at least one Thai place nowadays.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 8:57 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Crushed potato chips and hot sauce.
posted by Splunge at 9:07 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

SWEDEN HAS SPOKEN. @swedense: With this tweet we officially confirm that the banana has been spotted on pizzas in Sweden – on more than one occasion. Are we forgiven, Italy?

(photo tweet) @Syl_Orsovay: Pizza with chocolate and strawberries as well as banana pizzas are very common here in Brazil.

(photo tweet) @bhaviland: In other news, there are bananas on this pizza...

A recipe for Banana Curry Pizza.
posted by Wordshore at 9:09 AM on November 15, 2018

Are we doing Swedish pizza now? If so, then here's a portmanteau for you: Calskrove (calzone + skrovmål). That's a calzone with a hamburger + fries in it. Google it at your own peril.

If you're really in the mood for exploring what Swedes do to pizzas, click this link.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 9:16 AM on November 15, 2018 [6 favorites]

To develop this discussion into the always-appreciated ontologies of food-types: is a galette (of the savory breton buckwheat crepe variety) a pizza? Because Swedish pizza lies on a spectrum much closer to the galette (in terms of texture, presentation, flavor profile) than to a Neapolitan pizza in my experience. Discuss.
posted by St. Oops at 9:40 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

This reminds me, Giordano's is trying out a Jucy Lucy (cheeseburger) style deep dish pizza in Minneapolis. Seems to have a lot of lettuce on it.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:01 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Truly though, the most bizarre offering I've seen on a pizzeria menu in Sweden is a "Shalom" pizza at Babylon pizza in Nora, featuring ham, ground pork, mushrooms and onions.

Does...does "shalom" have some esoteric meaning in Swedish that I have failed to grasp? Because while the pizza sounds edible enough, "Treyf" would be a better name for it.

This reminds me, Giordano's is trying out a Jucy Lucy (cheeseburger) style deep dish pizza in Minneapolis. Seems to have a lot of lettuce on it.

I miss Giordano's (waaah! I want some stuffed spinach pizza! NOW!), but I prefer less abundant uncooked greenery on my deep dish.
posted by thomas j wise at 10:06 AM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Pizza is an open-face sandwich.
posted by slogger at 10:26 AM on November 15, 2018 [5 favorites]

Sandwiches are made on bread, not on dough. Pizza is not a sandwich.
posted by Dysk at 10:32 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

That story linked as “blue cheese in Iceland” has a number of inaccuracies. First of all, the first restaurant offering pizza, though mostly a sit-down place, opened in 1979, two years before Pizzahúsið, run by Ólafur Jónsson, opened. He was the first to offer frozen pizzas, though. However, a number of other pizza places opened before Dominos arrived on the scene, he never had a monopoly.
posted by Kattullus at 10:46 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Banana pizza smothered with coleslaw. I just can’t.
posted by 41swans at 11:10 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Swedes also put shrimp in mayo on top of their hot dogs and serve the whole thing with mash.

In Denmark the kebab pizza is a regular thing - often paired with shredded lettuce and salad dressing .. on top of the pizza. My parents love a pizza that's got slices of steak on top with Bearnaise sauce drizzled over the pizza.
posted by kariebookish at 11:34 AM on November 15, 2018 [2 favorites]

Can confirm that the Danish style kebab pizza is amazing, lettuce and dressing and all.
posted by Dysk at 11:40 AM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Can we talk about pepperoni though? It's not the same everywhere. In Toronto it is flabby

the solution to this is to order from Gigi, and ask for your pizza "well done"
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 12:18 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

order from Gigi

ORLY. I used to live right by there, around the time that they got closed for all the oregano not so much being oregano.
posted by wellred at 12:22 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I'm sure I've had curry served with a side-dish of plain chopped banana, but that was in the 70s, before people knew how to make proper curries. The British curry in those days was basically a lamb stew with curry powder and sultanas. It was edible, occasionally (very occasionally) even tasty, and the bananas went pretty well with it. However, when I describe it to actual Indian people they usually just wince and change the subject.
posted by Fuchsoid at 1:01 PM on November 15, 2018 [4 favorites]

running on the logic of 'what's a dish we like, and what if we eat them on bread and cheese?'

This is what people are saying a lot of the time when they say "pizza." It's prescriptivism vs descriptivism in food form.
posted by zardoz at 1:39 PM on November 15, 2018 [3 favorites]

Once when I was a permanently ravenous teenager a family friend was visiting and promised to bring a pizza with her. It turned out to be from some hippy place and it was topped with cauliflower, broccoli, and carrots. No sauce, a tiny bit of cheese. It was the most disappointing thing in the world.

I would eat that pizza again before I'd try a banana curry pizza.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 2:44 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I put some sauerkraut on my pizza this very evening, so I can't get mad about coleslaw on pizza.
posted by ITheCosmos at 5:35 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

Oh also, the duck by the oboe, I recently got a slice from a hippie restaurant that was the only place to eat between two points I was traveling between. The signs explaining the toppings were too small to read, so I ordered a "deluxe", and it turned out to mean "veggie pizza, but covered in fistfuls of sunflower seeds", which is, uh, something.
posted by ITheCosmos at 5:39 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

I can't let this thread die before introducing Bon, Swedish children's TV's French answer to The Swedish Chef, and his recipe for pizza.
posted by St. Oops at 11:35 PM on November 15, 2018 [1 favorite]

On the theme of bananas and pizza: Do you want a banana flavored condiment that doesn't even really taste like banana but is really good and could be used on/with the right pizza?:

UFC banana sauce. Look for it in your food store's international section. Its super cheap usually too.

Do not buy the kickbox banana sauce - it's demonstrably inferior (has no ground game).
posted by some loser at 2:02 PM on November 16, 2018 [1 favorite]

it turned out to mean "veggie pizza, but covered in fistfuls of sunflower seeds", which is, uh, something.

Sounds bumpy.
posted by 41swans at 8:52 AM on November 17, 2018 [1 favorite]