The British Mock Banana Sandwiches of WW2

Bananas, the delicious fruit had a mock recipe of it during WW2

The British imported 70% of their food so during WW2 a lot of their exports were cut off and the ones they could get ahold of were heavily rationed, so the banana was impossible to get. Children viewed the banana as a mystical object/fruit due to their rarity.

In 1945 the first shipment of bananas was celebrated with a parade. (of children). Sadly, many children did not know how to eat a banana as they had never eaten it before and had to be shown how to peel a banana.

The first shipment was from Jamaica with millions of bananas.

there were also many wartime songs about the return of bananas e.g. “Yes, we have no bananas’

Well, how did the sandwiches taste?

People say that the sandwiches tasted like sweet carrots or a more earthy/weird banana. The texture was thick and was easy to spread. Opinions are mixed some say that they are a treat while others say it is awful. So not all Brits are bananas for bananas!

So, if you run out of banana then try these recipes

Recipes:

Mock banana recipe no. 148:

Ingredients:

1 medium parsnip (per round of sandwich)

2-3 teaspoons of caster sugar (per parsnip)

2-3 squirts of banana essence (per parsnip)

Method:

Peel & chop up parsnip and boil until soft

Drain the mix in caster sugar and the banana essence 

Mash until fairly smooth

Cool down

Spread on your bread and make your sandwich 

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The National Loaf began to be distributed in 1941. Made of 85% wholemeal enriched with vitamins B and C, it was nutritious, but dense, gummy, and went stale very quickly.

Ingredients:

Mock Banana Cream

1 lb (450 g) parsnips

4 tablespoons (60 g) margarine

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons banana flavouring, or more to taste

The National Loaf

2 1/2 cups (300 g) wholemeal wheat flour

1/2 cup (35 g) wheat germ

1/2 cup (50 g) oat flour

1/2 cup (60 g) barley flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

1 1/4 cups (300 ml) water

1 tablespoon treacle or honey

Instructions:

For the mock banana cream: Peel the parsnips and chop them. The size is not really important here; it is just to help them cook faster.

Put the parsnips in a pot, cover them with water, and boil them for about 10 minutes, or until they’re quite soft. You may need more or less time depending on the size of your parsnip pieces.

Drain the parsnips, put them in a large bowl, and mash them well. They do not need to be completely smooth because we are going to mash them some more in the next step.

Add the margarine, sugar, and banana flavouring and mash again until combined. You can also use electric beaters to get the banana cream as smooth as possible.

For the National Loaf:

Whisk the flours and wheat germ together. Whisk in the salt, then whisk in the yeast. Add the water and treacle and mix until it forms a dough. 

Knead by hand for 15 to 20 minutes or for about 10 minutes in a stand mixer, or until you have a nice smooth dough. 

Set the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise for about 2 hours or until it is doubled in size. 

After the dough has risen, turn it out and gently press it into a rectangle about 8 inches (20 cm) by 15 inches (38 cm). With the shorter side facing you, roll the dough up into a log that is 8 inches long. Place the dough in a greased loaf pan, cover, and let it rise for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the dough reaches the top of the pan.

While the dough rises, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

After the dough has risen, bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached at least 195°F (90°C). Let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. 

To assemble:

For extra authenticity, let the National Loaf sit out for a day to get a little stale before slicing and making sandwiches.

Slice the National Loaf thinly, about 1/4 inch (scant 1 cm). Spread some butter on if you wish, but during rationing, it’s unlikely someone would use their precious butter allotment on a mock banana sandwich. Add as much of the mock banana cream as you like and spread it evenly. Top with another thin slice of the National Loaf and serve it forth.

So, how is the mock Banana sandwich and what did it taste like was it a treat or was it awful?