Easy Fried Banana Dessert Recipe

Bananas are one of my favorite fruits. I eat a banana about every day. Imagine my surprise last year when I found out I had a potassium deficiency-- especially when my love for bananas has been a lifelong love affair. Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and are used to make tons of yummy treats like bread, pie, smoothies, pudding, sundaes, etc. Many cultures have some version of a fried banana recipe. Some desserts entail dipping the bananas into a batter and deep frying them. This recipe is much simpler than that as it doesn't require preparing a batter and can be made on the stove top in a frying pan or skillet. The finished dish can be served by itself or as a delicious topping for ice cream or pancakes.

How fresh or ripe should bananas be?

• Your bananas shouldn't be green. Wait until they're ripe before frying them for this dessert dish. Your bananas should have a few faint brown spots just starting to appear. If your bananas are too ripe, get some new bananas. Bananas that are perfect for banana bread are too ripe for frying.

Can I just use lazy lemon or orange juice?

• I highly suggest going that extra step to squeeze some fresh lemon and orange juice. The acidity from these citrus fruits really adds a level of freshness and don't use imitations unless it really can't be avoided.

When is it cooked? When is it over-cooked?

• Keep an eye on your bananas. Check the bottoms and flip. It doesn't take long to burn the bananas or the syrup. How do I know if I burned my dessert? The bananas and or syrup will taste bitter. Toss it and try again. Practice makes perfect.

What can I serve my fried bananas with?

• These bananas taste delicious by themselves for dessert or at brunch. Since the sauce turns into a delicious caramelized syrup, the bananas and syrup make a delicious topping for other treats like vanilla or chocolate ice cream, cake, or even banana bread. You can top the bananas with a little whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar.

This is my classic chocolate chip banana bread topped with fried bananas and a dusting of powdered sugar. Make the banana bread the night before, wrap in foil and refrigerate. Slice bread the next morning and top with these easy fried bananas for a breakfast or brunch that will be out of this world.

This dessert is easy and elegant without a lot of effort. It can be the main event or a lovely topping. If you've never had fried bananas, don't simply write them off because it's a dish or style of preparation that's outside of your comfort zone. Making this dessert makes your kitchen smell absolutely divine-- but wait until you taste it! Bon Appétit!