Caramelized Banana Coconut Bake (Akwadu)

This dish is simple yet delicious. A variation of this is popularly eaten for breakfast or dessert in Africa, particularly in Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea. Akwadu is traditionally made with butter, honey and sugar. I wanted a refined sugar free version so I swapped the sugar for pure maple syrup, but you could also use more honey. You’ll still get that incredible caramelization that makes this dish so good.

This recipe makes a single-serving but can easily be multiplied with a larger baking dish.

Akwadu has unrefined carbs from the banana and healthy fats from the butter. It’s also high in B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, copper, manganese and potassium.

This dish works perfectly for a healthy and simple dessert. You can even pop it in the oven before you sit down for dinner and it will be ready just in time!

• A small cast iron skillet or pie pan (6-8 inches). Any small baking dish will work.

• Kachumbari
• Nigerian Jollof Rice
• Fried Plantains