Macará (Fried Banana Balls)
In short: Mashed ripe banana, flour and yeast fried by the spoonful into golden, crisp-shelled balls with a soft, sweet center. It takes about 30 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 350 kcal
Macará are fried balls of mashed ripe banana, flour and yeast, a snack found in Equatorial Guinea. The dough is sticky and sweet, and the balls puff in hot oil into a crisp, golden shell around a soft center. They are eaten warm and make good use of bananas that are too ripe to eat raw. Very ripe, spotty bananas give the best flavor.
Instructions
- Mash the bananas in a large bowl until completely smooth.
- Mix the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a small bowl. Stir it into the bananas until you have a thick, sticky batter. Add a spoonful of water if it feels stiff.
- Cover the bowl and leave it in a warm place for 30 minutes, until slightly puffed.
- Pour 6 cm (2 1/2 inches) of oil into a deep, heavy pot and heat it to 175°C (350°F).
- Use two spoons to drop heaped tablespoons of batter into the oil, 5 or 6 at a time. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes, turning, until deep golden all over.
- Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve warm.
Tips
- Keep the oil at 175°C (350°F). If it is too cool the balls soak up oil and turn greasy, and if it is too hot they brown before the center cooks.
- Roll the warm balls in a little sugar, or serve them with a squeeze of lime, if you want a sharper finish.
Questions and answers
Can I bake macará instead of frying?
You can drop spoonfuls on an oiled tray and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 15 to 18 minutes, but they come out more like soft cakes than crisp-shelled balls.
How do I store leftover macará?
Keep them in an airtight container for 1 day at room temperature, or refrigerate for 3 days. Reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 8 minutes to bring back some crispness.
Can I use plantains instead of bananas?
Yes, use very ripe, mostly black plantains. They are less sweet than bananas, so keep the sugar and expect a slightly denser ball.
How long does it take to make Macará (Fried Banana Balls)?
About 30 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Macará (Fried Banana Balls)?
About 350 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 60 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 350 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 60 g |
| Fat | 10 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 145 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
