Banana Flower Fritters

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Banana Blossom Fritters

Banana blossom fritters are a delicious and unique dish made from the edible flower of the banana plant. They are often enjoyed as a snack or appetiser and are known for their crispy texture, subtle flavour and slightly fibrous interior. This recipe resembles Japanese style tempura (without deep-frying), with additional layers of flavour from adding spices into the batter. The fritters can also be served with a tangy dipping sauce or chutney to elevate the dish.
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups banana flowers loosely packed
  • 150 ml plain flour approx. 90g
  • 150 ml water
  • 100 ml vegetable oil or enough to coat the pan for shallow frying
  • 1/2 tsp salt adjust to taste
  • 1 inch grated or ground fresh turmeric optional, substitute with 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder or cumin seeds optional, adjust to taste
  • 1/2 tsp chilli powder optional, adjust to taste

Method
 

  1. Add 150ml (90g) of flour into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add in 150ml of water and whisk until the batter is smooth with no lumps. The consistency of the batter should be runny and light.
  3. Mix in salt, turmeric and any desired spices.
  4. Add in all the banana blossoms and mix thoroughly until each blossom is coated.
  5. Add oil into a fry pan (enough to coat the pan with about 5mm of oil) and heat on medium heat.
  6. Once the oil is hot, using tongs or chopsticks, pick up mouthful sizes of banana blossoms and place in the hot oil.
  7. Fry the fritters on one side for a few minutes. Once the batter is golden and crispy looking on one side, flip the fritters over onto the other side to fry for another few minutes.
  8. Once the fritters are golden on both sides, transfer to a plate or rack with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Serve hot and enjoy!

Notes

  1. For this recipe, I used all the banana flowers from one blossom which was about 2 cups and made about 10 fritters. Depending on the size of the blossom, you may end up with more or less flowers and may need to adjust the amount of batter.