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Healthy Fried Bananas: Delicious Grain Free Recipe

Healthy Fried Bananas: Delicious Grain Free Recipe

Fried bananas are a treat enjoyed in many parts of the world. You can easily make your own yummy, caramelized fried bananas in a healthy way with this delicious grain free recipe!

Fried Bananas Across the Globe

In regions of Central and South America fried bananas or plantains are called maduros. In parts of Nigeria fried plantains are called dodo. In parts of Southeast Asia mini bananas or baby bananas are fried in rice flour or other flour and oil, making treats like chuoi chien which are vietnamese banana fritters. Pisang tanduk goreng is the Indian version. The list goes on!

This recipe is a healthy version without any grain, and without toxic seed oils! 

My Love for Fried Bananas

I grew up eating maduros, or sweet fried plantains from Latin American restaurants. I loved the delicious caramelized edges and soft inside of a fried plantain, dipped in rich sour cream. It was the perfect compliment to many Central and South American dishes. 

Nowadays I don’t eat at restaurants, I don’t eat toxic deep frying seed oils, and I try to buy all organic produce – but can’t usually find organic plantains! So I had to learn to make do with regular organic bananas and butter. 

Turns out…

Fried bananas are just as delicious, if not better, than the sweet fried plantains at restaurants (if made the right way).

Maduros are sweet and soft, unlike tostones which are a flat disk-shaped plantain side dish that are more savory. With that being said, regular yellow sweet bananas are a wonderful alternative to the extra ripe plantains used in maduros. 

The Key to Perfect Fried Bananas

There are a few things to keep in mind when making grain free fried bananas at home:

The bananas

For perfect fried bananas, you want to use somewhat firm bananas, or they willl become soggy and won’t carmelize properly. I have found it’s best to use just barely ripe bananas, or even a little under ripe. If there are any black or brown spots, it’s too ripe! Save those over-ripe bananas for banana bread or healthy banana pancakes!

The frying oil

I don’t actually fry in “oil”. My favorite way to fry bananas is by using clarified butter or ghee! This is the milk fat that has been separated from butter. It’s healthy, delicious, and makes perfect caramelized fried bananas! If you use regular butter, it will burn and ruin the flavor and caramelization. See how to make you own clarified butter below. Note: I tried making fried bananas with coconut oil, and I did not enjoy them nor did I feel very good afterwards. It was a big difference from frying in delicious clarified butter! 

The pan

I use a flat cast iron pan to make my fried bananas. For me, it works better than stainless steel. I don’t use non-stick pans because of the toxic coating. See my favorite flat pan for frying bananas below. 

The temperature 

You want the temperature of the pan to be at about medium, or slightly above. Too low and your bananas will stick and won’t caramelize, too high and they will burn. You may have to experiment a bit with your particular stovetop and pan. You also want to make sure to wait until your clarified butter or ghee is preheated before placing any sliced banana piece down, or it will stick and not caramelize properly.

Why Fried Bananas are Healthy

If fried in a healthy frying ingredient like clarified butter or ghee, fried bananas are a healthy carb. Unlike grains which can be hard on the gut, bananas are a fruit that is easy to digest. If you are avoiding or reducing grains and other difficult to digest foods, fried bananas are a great treat to add to your recipe repertoire! 

How to Serve Fried Bananas

My favorite way to enjoy fried bananas is by dipping them in sour cream or homemade skyr

To enjoy as a dessert, you could serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or top with a drizzle of honey for extra sweetness.

How to Make Perfect Fried Bananas 

Step 1

Peel firm and just barely ripe bananas and place on a cutting board. 

Step 2

Cut bananas in half into two 3 or 4 inch long pieces, and then into thirds long-ways. 

Step 3

Preheat a large, flat cast iron pan with clarified butter.  

Step 4

Once clarified butter is preheated, place banana pieces down flat one at a time. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan or stack any pieces on top of each other, or they will not caramelize properly.

 

Step 5

After about 2 or 3 minutes, carefully check with a spatula to see if the pieces are golden brown on the bottom. Once golden brown, carefully turn each piece to the other side. 

Step Six

After second side is caramelized to golden brown, remove pieces carefully with a spatula and place on a large plate. 

Step 7

Sprinkle with salt  and allow to cool 3-5 minutes before enjoying. I haven’t had an issue with excess drip when using clarified butter, but if you experience this you could try placing them on a paper towel before serving. 

Serve with sour cream, skyr, greek yogurt, or vanilla ice cream. For added sweetness, drizzle with honey or maple syrup. 

How to Make Clarified Butter

Making clarified butter is so easy! 

Simply heat the amount you want to make in a small pot on low.

Once the butter has melted, you will see a white liquid form on top. Carefully remove pot from the heat. 

With a spoon, carefully remove the white liquid on top from the yellow milk fat.

Allow to settle for a minute, then pour the yellow milk fat into another container, separating it from the white liquid that has formed on the bottom. 

Alternatively, you can buy grass fed ghee!

Healthy Fried Bananas: Delicious Grain Free Recipe

Fried bananas are a delicious treat enjoyed in many parts of the world. You can easily make your own friend bananas in a healthy way with this delicious grain free method!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Course Dessert, Side Dish, Snack
Servings 2

Equipment

  • 1 Cutting board
  • 1 knife
  • 1 large flat cast iron pan (see link below)
  • 1 metal spatula

Ingredients
  

  • 3 firm just barely ripe or slightly under ripe bananas
  • 3 tablespoons clarified butter or ghee
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Peel firm but ripe bananas and place on a cutting board.
  • Cut bananas in half into two 3 or 4 inch long pieces, and then into thirds long-ways.
  • Preheat a large, flat cast iron pan with clarified butter.
  • Once clarified butter is preheated, place banana pieces down flat one at a time. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan or stack any pieces on top of each other, or they will not caramelize properly.
  • After about 2 or 3 minutes, carefully check with a spatula to see if the pieces are golden brown on the bottom. Once golden brown, carefully turn each piece to the other side.
  • After second side as caramelized to golden brown, remove pieces carefully with a spatula and place on a large plate.
  • Sprinkle with salt  and allow to cool 3-5 minutes before enjoying. I haven’t had an issue with excess drip when using clarified butter, but if you experience this you could try placing them on a paper towel before serving.
  • Serve with sour cream, skyr, greek yogurt, or vanilla ice cream. For added sweetness, drizzle with honey or maple syrup.
Keyword banana

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This is the cast iron frying pan I use for fried bananas

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*This post does not contain medical advice.

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