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Black Scabbard Fish with Banana — traditional dish from Funchal, Portugal
Main course Fish & Seafood

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥480kcal
💪30gProtein
🌾40gCarbs
🥑18gFat
🌿4gFibre
⚖️350 gServing

* Per serving · 350 g. May vary.

Allergens

🐟 Fish

Black Scabbard Fish with Banana

How to order / say it
Say it Espada com Banana — [Ess-PAH-dah cohm bah-NAH-na]
Order I'd like the black scabbard fish with banana, please.
Locally Gostaria da espada com banana, por favor.
Say locally

Tender black scabbard fish served with sweet banana.

Why try it?

A perfect balance of land and sea, this dish showcases Madeira's capability in combining unique local ingredients in a harmonious way, embodying the maritime and tropical characteristics of the island.

How it tastes

The slight sweetness of banana complements the meaty texture of scabbard fish, providing a delightful contrast of flavors that is both slightly sweet and savory, often seasoned with lemon juice.

Origin & History — first documented: 1850

Introduced in the mid-19th century, this dish combines Madeira's indigenous fruits, such as bananas, with the abundant local scabbard fish catch, making it a staple on the island due to its use of accessible, regional ingredients.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🐟 300 g black scabbard fish
  • 2 pieces banana
  • 🍋 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 🫒 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 🌿 1 tbsp chopped parsley
  • 🧄 2 cloves garlic

Method

  1. 1 Clean and season the fish with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
  2. 2 Heat olive oil in a pan and fry the fish until golden.
  3. 3 Remove the fish and in the same oil, fry banana slices until caramelized.
  4. 4 Serve the fish with bananas garnished with parsley and garlic.
All Europe recipes — Portugal — Funchal — Black Scabbard Fish with Banana
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