Fried Bananas Recipe

Prepare bananas

Peel the bananas and cut them in half crosswise. For thicker pieces, cut each half lengthwise into two, yielding 8 banana pieces. Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Mix dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

Combine wet ingredients

In a separate small bowl, lightly beat the egg, then whisk in the milk and vanilla extract until smooth.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until you have a smooth, slightly thick batter. If batter is too thick to coat, add up to 1 tablespoon extra milk; it should cling to a spoon but still drip slowly.

Coat bananas

Place the cornstarch in a shallow dish. Optional: for extra crunch, combine breadcrumbs with cornstarch in the dish. Lightly toss each banana piece in cornstarch (or cornstarch-breadcrumb mix) to dry the surface, then dip into the prepared batter, ensuring an even coating. Allow excess batter to drip back into the bowl.

Heat oil

Pour vegetable oil into a deep skillet or saucepan to a depth of about 1 to 1 1/2 inches (enough for shallow-deep frying). Heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F (175°C) or until a small drop of batter sizzles and rises to the surface immediately.

Fry bananas

Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, gently slide coated banana pieces into the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side, turning once with a slotted spoon or tongs, until golden brown and crisp. Total fry time will be about 4–6 minutes depending on banana size and oil temperature. Adjust heat to maintain 325–350°F (160–175°C).

Drain

Using a slotted spoon, transfer fried bananas to a wire rack set over a baking sheet or to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and keep crisp. While still warm, dust with powdered sugar and a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon if using.

Serve immediately with optional lime or lemon wedges for squeezing, or serve with ice cream, honey, or caramel sauce as desired.