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Accra banane
Ripe banana fritters
Accra banane: Douala's sweet, puffy fritters of very ripe banana, fried golden
Morning street corners in Douala smell of frying banana: vendors drop very ripe fruit and flour batter into deep oil and sell accra banane by the paper bag, often with a bowl of bouillie or a plate of beans. Crisp at the edges and soft, sweet and almost custardy inside, these little puffs need nothing more than mashed bananas, flour, sugar and a pinch of nutmeg. Children love them after school, and they are a thrifty way to rescue fruit that has turned black. A frequent slip is using underripe bananas, which give heavy, bland fritters. Chef's tip: use bananas so ripe the skins are mostly black; firmer yellow ones give a dry, bland fritter.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 4 very ripe bananasabout 450 g peeled
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
- 7 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 ¼ cups vegetable oilfor deep-frying
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mash the 4 very ripe bananas in a large bowl with a fork until smooth, with only a few small lumps.
3 minStep 2: Whisk in the 2 tbsp sugar, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg and 1 pinch salt.
Step 3: Mix the 7 oz plain flour with the 1 tsp baking powder and fold it into the bananas to make a thick batter that holds its shape on a spoon. Leave it to rest for 10 minutes so the flour hydrates.
10 minStep 4: Heat the 4 ¼ cups vegetable oil in a deep pan to 350°F, or until a drop of batter sizzles and rises steadily without browning instantly.
Step 5: Drop in heaped teaspoons of batter, 6–8 at a time, or squeeze small balls out between your thumb and finger the way Douala sellers do. Fry for 4–5 minutes, turning, until deep golden all over. If the oil is too hot, they brown outside before the centre cooks, so fry one test fritter first and break it open.
15 minStep 6: Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Serve warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 345 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does accra banane take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- What can I use instead of very ripe bananas?
- 120g (½ cup) apple sauce per banana (less banana flavour).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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