Recipe of Panamanian Chocao, a Delicious Dessert Made with Bananas

We'll show you how to make Panamanian "chocao", a dessert with unripe bananas as the main ingredient, and which provides a lot of energy and potassium.
Recipe of Panamanian Chocao, a Delicious Dessert Made with Bananas
Saúl Sánchez Arias

Reviewed and approved by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Last update: 04 August, 2022

Panamanian chocao is a dessert with excellent nutritional value. It’s made with guineo (unripe, green bananas) a fruit high in potassium, proteins and folic acid. In fact, in some cultures, it’s considered to be a superfood.

In any case, it’s an excellent alternative to introduce into the diet and increase variety. In addition, it’s easy to prepare. We’re going to tell you everything you need to know to achieve the best result.

How to prepare Panamanian chocao?

Panamanian chocao.
The main ingredient of Panamanian chocao is the guineo.

Ingredients

To prepare an exquisite chocao panameño, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 15 guineos (unripe bananas)
  • 2 packs of cinnamon sticks
  • 1 piece of ginger
  • 1 shredded coconut
  • 1 cup evaporated milk

Instructions

  1. Mash the bananas and place them in a pot of boiling water.
  2. Cook for about 3 minutes.
  3. Add the cinnamon along with the finely chopped ginger.
  4. Then, add the coconut and continue cooking until all the ingredients are well mixed.
  5. Finally, add the milk and serve.

Another alternative of the Panamanian “chocao”

We’re going to show you another alternative way to prepare Panamanian chocao. In this case, the ingredients needed are the following:

  • 6 ripe bananas
  • One grated coconut
  • 1 piece of ginger
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • Honey or sugar to taste

Step by step

  1. Peel the bananas and cut them lengthwise, removing the inner part.
  2. Then, cook them with the coconut milk. It’s important to crush them progressively.
  3. Add the sliced ginger along with the salt and the sweet.
  4. Cook until the mixture dries.
  5. Add a little coconut at the end, along with half a cup of hot water.
  6. Knead well, squeeze and strain.

Benefits of the Panamanian chocao

Panamanian chocao.
The Panamanian chocao is a tasty dessert, full of carbohydrates and, therefore, very energetic.

The Panamanian chocao is a dessert that provides a good amount of energy, so it’s especially suitable for athletes. The carbohydrates present in it can promote an optimal recovery, although you need to consume them together with a good amount of proteins. Thus, glycogen resynthesis is maximized, as evidenced by research published in the journal Nutrients.

Moreover, this dessert is a source of potassium, an element that helps reduce blood pressure, exerting an antagonistic effect to that of sodium. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association confirms this. One of the keys to correcting episodes of hypertension is to equalize the intake of both minerals in the diet.

Another great banana recipe: Almond Banana Bread Recipe

Panamanian chocao, a nutrient-dense dessert

As you have seen, Panamanian chocao is a simple-to-prepare dessert that can provide plenty of energy and a good amount of essential micronutrients. In addition, it has a good phytochemical content, so it would help to control the levels of inflammation and oxidation in the body. This is key to prevent the development of chronic and complex pathologies over the years.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


  • Alghannam, A. F., Gonzalez, J. T., & Betts, J. A. (2018). Restoration of Muscle Glycogen and Functional Capacity: Role of Post-Exercise Carbohydrate and Protein Co-Ingestion. Nutrients10(2), 253. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10020253
  • Filippini, T., Naska, A., Kasdagli, M. I., Torres, D., Lopes, C., Carvalho, C., Moreira, P., Malavolti, M., Orsini, N., Whelton, P. K., & Vinceti, M. (2020). Potassium Intake and Blood Pressure: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of the American Heart Association9(12), e015719. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.015719

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.