Green Banana Run Down recipe includes the most popular Jamaican flavors, thyme, scallion, and Scotch Bonnet Pepper, cooked in coconut milk, it was a huge hit with my family.
This recipe is similar to my Jamaican Vegan Run Down. I also have other Jamaican recipes with coconut milk, such as Jamaican Stew Peas, Jamaican Rice And Peas, and Jamaican Sweet Potato Pudding.
Green Banana Run Down
Recently, I came across a recipe for Samoan green banana with coconut milk, and right away I decided I wanted to make a Jamaican version. The Samoan recipe was basically cooked green bananas with coconut milk, onions, and salt.
This green banana rundown recipe is so easy to prepare. Green bananas are sold at any ethnic food stores, or in the produce aisle of all major supermarkets. It is important to remember that if you aren’t preparing your green bananas right away, store them in the refrigerator to prevent them from turning ripe.

What Is Run Down?
Rundown is a common Jamaican stew, that is also eaten throughout the Caribbean, such as Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and other Latin American Countries, like Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
Rundown is also called rundown, oil down, fling me far, fling me for, dip and fall back, and stew down. Traditionally, mackerel fish or other seafood is cooked in seasoned coconut milk until the stew is reduced to a creamy savory custard. It is traditionally served with boiled dumplings and cooked green bananas, and served for breakfast.
Ingredients For Green Banana Run Down
- Green Bananas
- Coconut Oil
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Spring Onions
- Tomato
- Thyme
- Allspice
- Creole Seasoning
- Coconut Milk
- Scotch Bonnet Pepper
- Salt

How To Make Green Banana Run Down?
- Separate green bananas from the stem and wash bananas. Using a sharp knife, cut through or cut off the ends. Make a cut along the side of the banana, cutting only through the skin, not deep into the flesh.
- Remove the skin along the line all the way around the banana. Discard the skin. Repeat until all the banana skins are peeled.
- Bring water to boil in a large pot, add the bananas and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer until bananas are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain water and set aside.
- While the bananas are boiling, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add onions, and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, green onions and cook until fragrant – about 1 minute.
- Stir in tomatoes, thyme, allspice, Creole Seasoning, coconut milk, Scotch bonnet pepper, and salt to taste.
- Add green bananas and bring them to a simmer. Cover skillet and allow the run down to cook until sauce is thick about 5-8 minutes.
- Serve immediately. It is delicious served with Green Banana Porridge, Jamaican Steamed Cabbage, or Callaloo.
Other Green Banana Recipes

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Categories
- Categories: Gluten-Free, Vegan
- Course: Breakfast
- Cuisine: Jamaican
Nutrition
(Per serving)- Energy: 276 kcal / 1154 kJ
- Fat: 17 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Carbs: 33 g
Cook Time
- Preparation: 15 min
- Cooking: 30 min
- Ready in: 45 min
- For: 7 Servings
Ingredients
- 7 medium green bananas
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- 2 sprigs thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon Creole/Cajun Seasoning, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 (15-ounce) can coconut milk
- 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper, or 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Separate green bananas from the stem and wash bananas. Using a sharp knife cut through or cut off the ends. Make a cut along the side of the banana, cutting only through the skin, not deep into the flesh.
- Remove the skin along the line all the way around the banana. Discard the skin. Repeat until all the banana skins are peeled.
- Bring water to boil in a large pot, add the bananas and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer until bananas are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain water and set aside.
- While the bananas are boiling, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add onions and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, green onions and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in tomatoes, thyme, allspice, Creole Seasoning, coconut milk, Scotch bonnet pepper and salt to taste.
- Add green bananas ad and bring to a simmer. Cover skillet and allow run down to cook until sauce is thick, about 5-8 minutes.
- Serve immediately. It is delicious served with Jamaican steamed cabbage or callaloo.
I remember having this once when I was a child, prepared by either my mom or grandmother. I have never had it since or seen anyone else prepare this. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe 🙏
I love me some boiled green banana with Taro and Dasheen. And callalu with 2 ham hocks and lots of hot peppers. bird pepper, serranos, jalapeños, scotch bonnet. And of course creole/cajun seasoning.
This green banana run down looks really marvelous and healthy too
Perfect side dish ❤️❤️🥰🥰
I enjoyed the recipe. It’s flavorful. Not sure why the bananas turned black after boiling. Thanks
Hello Myrtle, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. I find more mature green bananas tend to turn brown. However it is hard to say what will happen.
Thank you Myrtle, I’m so happy you enjoyed it. I find if the green banana is very mature it tends to change color and be hard.
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for another great recipe, I like to try new foods and I’d never eaten green banana. I wanted to use what was on hand so I had to leave out the scallions, scotch bonnet and optional Creole seasoning. Used some cayenne for heat. I really enjoyed it.
girl i love your site,its great. thank you so much for putting all the work into it.