Filhós de Banana (Cape Verdean Banana Fritters)
In short: Soft, golden fritters of mashed ripe banana and flour, crisp at the edges and rolled in cinnamon sugar, a simple Cape Verdean sweet for tea or coffee. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 310 kcal
Filhós are fried sweets found across the Portuguese-speaking world, and in Cabo Verde the banana version is a favorite. Very ripe bananas give the batter its sweetness and a tender crumb, so little sugar is needed. The fritters puff in hot oil, turn deep golden and get a quick roll in sugar and cinnamon. Serve them warm with coffee or tea, because they are at their best in the first 20 minutes.
Instructions
- Mash the bananas in a bowl until almost smooth, leaving a few small lumps.
- Stir in the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add water a spoonful at a time until you have a thick batter that drops slowly from a spoon.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan to 175°C (350°F). Test with a drop of batter, which should sizzle and rise right away.
- Drop in rounded tablespoons of batter, 5 or 6 at a time, without crowding. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning once, until deep golden and cooked through in the middle.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon, drain on paper towels for 30 seconds, then roll in the cinnamon sugar. Serve warm.
Tips
- The riper the bananas, the sweeter and softer the fritters. Bananas with mostly black skins work best. Plantain also works if it is fully ripe and black.
- If the fritters brown fast but stay doughy inside, the oil is too hot. Lower the heat and break one open to check.
Questions and answers
Can I bake these instead of frying?
You can spoon the batter onto a greased tray and bake at 200°C (400°F) for about 15 minutes, but the result is closer to a banana cake bite than a fritter.
Can I make the batter ahead of time?
Make it no more than 30 minutes ahead. After that the baking powder weakens and the fritters turn dense.
What can I use instead of all-purpose flour?
Fine cornmeal gives a crumblier, sweeter fritter, and a half-and-half mix with wheat flour works well. For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour blend.
How long does it take to make Filhós de Banana (Cape Verdean Banana Fritters)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Filhós de Banana (Cape Verdean Banana Fritters)?
About 310 kcal per serving, with 4 g of protein, 55 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 310 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 4 g |
| Carbohydrates | 55 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 200 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
