Kluay Buat Chi
กล้วยบวชชี
Kluay Buat Chi is a simple, comforting Thai dessert of bananas simmered in sweetened coconut milk — the name translates as 'bananas ordained as a nun', as the white coconut milk is likened to white robes.
Cultural Origin
Kluay Buat Chi, literally 'bananas ordained as nuns,' is a classical Central Thai dessert of ripe bananas simmered in sweet-salty coconut milk, named for the white robes worn by Buddhist nuns. It is a traditional home dessert often prepared as a Buddhist merit offering.
Allergens & Sensitivities
Key Ingredients
- ripe bananas
- coconut milk
- palm sugar
- salt
Taste profile
- Salty
- fish sauce, soy, shrimp paste
- Sweet
- palm sugar, coconut
- Sour
- lime, tamarind, fermentation
- Umami
- dried shrimp, fermented pastes, stock
This is one of the least sweet items on a Thai dessert menu — the coconut milk is only lightly sugared and carries a clear savoury edge from the salt, closer to a mild soup than a syrup.
How Kluay Buat Chi Is Made
- 1
Preparing the coconut milk
Coconut milk is warmed with palm sugar and a measured pinch of salt, kept at a gentle simmer.
- 2
Preparing the bananas
Bananas are peeled, halved lengthways or left whole, and trimmed.
- 3
Simmering
The bananas are added to the warm coconut milk and simmered gently until just tender, not falling apart.
- 4
Resting
The pot is taken off the heat and left briefly so the bananas continue absorbing the coconut milk without overcooking.
- 5
Serving
It is ladled into a bowl and served warm, sometimes with a few extra spoonfuls of thicker coconut cream on top.
When It’s Eaten
A home-style dessert as much as a street one, eaten warm at any time of day rather than reserved for after a particular meal.
How to Order It
- ขอกล้วยบวชชีหนึ่งที่
- kor kluay buat chi neung thi
- One kluay buat chi, please
- ร้อนไหม
- ron mai
- Is it hot?
What people get wrong
Expecting it to be as sweet as other coconut-milk desserts — the balance here leans savoury, and diners expecting a sugary dish are sometimes thrown by the saltiness.
Where to Try It
Thai dessert stalls and markets; home cooking throughout Thailand.
Tips
- Use slightly underripe bananas for better texture — fully ripe bananas become too soft in the warm coconut milk.