Good Day Gourmet recipe: Turon (Filipino banana rolls) with caramel sauce

You’ve probably had bananas foster, but not like this. For this week’s Good Day Gourmet, Vanessa introduces us to the Filipino version of the popular dessert.

Important note about choosing your bananas: Ripe bananas will offer sweeter but softer turon. Unripe bananas or plantains will be less sweet, but sturdier through the frying process.

INGREDIENTS:

Turon

  • 2 bananas (or plantains)
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 8 lumpia wrappers
  • Vegetable oil, enough to cover rolls while frying
  • Cinnamon/sugar mix (optional, to taste)
  • Ice cream (optional)

Caramel sauce

  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • ½ cup half and half
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Slice bananas lengthwise into quarters. Peel banana slices.
  2. Sprinkle bananas in brown sugar.
  3. Roll bananas in lumpia wrappers, dampening edges with water to seal rolls shut.
  4. Fry turon for several minutes until golden brown. Remove to a cooling rack or dish lined with paper towels to blot the oil.
  5. While still warm, season turon with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
  6. For caramel sauce, heat all ingredients in a pot on medium-high heat until they thicken into a caramel sauce. This usually takes 5-7 minutes.
  7. Serve warm caramel over turon with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.