Bananas are one of the most versatile and widely consumed fruits in the world.
While they are often eaten raw or used in baking, there are many other creative ways to enjoy this scrumptious fruit.
From banana pancakes to crispy fried banana chips, and even banana sushi rolls, there are plenty of untraditional ways to incorporate bananas into your diet. Have a look:
1. Banana “sushi”
No, there’s no seaweed or rice, but this is great for kids (or adults!) who want to keep their food interesting. Slice your banana, slather it with nut butter or yoghurt, roll it in crushed cereal and top it with blackberry or raspberry bits to make it look like sushi rolls from that place down the road you love so much. You can even eat them with chopsticks!
2. Fry ’em up!
Slicing your ’nanas at an angle, frying them up and adding some honey and a few nuts is a delicious treat. I am also a big fan of fried banana slices in an omelette with cheese. It’s sweet and tangy in all the right ways. Have an air fryer? Thinly slice your bananas, coat them in your preferred oil, and fry them for about five minutes at 180. Flip them and fry a further five minutes before popping them out and immediately seasoning them with kosher salt.
3. Smash it avo
If your bananas are too ripe and you don’t want to make yet another banana bread, make a mash with some avocado (either in a food processor, blender, or just by hand), add some nuts and berries or eat them on your favourite crackers or pita chips for an interesting and healthy snack!
4. Vegan bananadoodles
Super-soft, chewy, cinnamon-spiced snickerdoodles with sweet banana flavour? Yes please! You can make these delicious treats that are also vegan by substituting your eggs for bananas and using vegetable shortening and vegan butter. They are super simple and help you avoid food waste!
5. Banana ‘nice cream’
Nice cream, a healthy and delicious frozen dessert made entirely from frozen bananas, is a vegan, dairy-free and refined sugar-free alternative to traditional ice cream that is gaining popularity on social media. It is easy to make by blending frozen bananas in a food processor until they have a creamy and smooth texture that resembles ice cream. The natural sweetness of the bananas gives them a sweet flavour and they can be customised by adding different fruits, nut butter, or other flavours.
6. Banana pancakes
One of the easiest and healthiest pancake recipes out there is the two-ingredient pancake recipe made with just eggs and bananas. This recipe is perfect for those who are looking for a gluten-free and grain-free breakfast option or just want to keep things simple in the kitchen. To make these pancakes, all you need to do is mash up some ripe bananas, add in some beaten eggs, and mix everything together until you have a smooth batter.
However, if you want to take your banana pancake game to the next level, there are plenty of ways to customise this simple recipe. Adding a dash of vanilla essence or a pinch of baking powder can make your pancakes fluffier and more flavourful. You can also experiment with different toppings like honey, fresh fruit or nut butter to create a pancake that is uniquely your own.
For a vegan option, there are plenty of substitutes that can be used to make this pancake recipe without eggs. Using ripe bananas, golden caster sugar, fine salt, vegetable oil, self-raising flour, baking powder and a plant-based milk like oat, almond or soy milk, you can create a delicious and fluffy pancake batter. Top it off with sliced bananas, fresh berries and a drizzle of syrup for a vegan breakfast that is sure to satisfy.
