Turon (Filipino Fried Banana and Jackfruit Spring Rolls)
In short: Saba bananas and ripe jackfruit rolled in brown sugar and spring roll wrappers, fried crisp and coated in glossy caramel, a Filipino street snack. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 214 kcal
Turon is the Filipino banana spring roll, sold hot from street carts and by the roadside as a merienda snack. A piece of saba banana, often with a strip of ripe jackfruit, is rolled in brown sugar, wrapped in a thin wrapper and fried until crisp. A final turn in melted sugar gives it a glassy caramel shell that crackles when you bite it, over a soft, sweet filling.
Instructions
- Peel the bananas and cut them into 12 pieces about 10 cm (4 in) long, halving saba bananas lengthwise. Roll the pieces in the brown sugar, pressing so it sticks, and lay a strip of jackfruit on each.
- Lay a wrapper on the board with one corner toward you. Place a banana piece near that corner, fold the corner over it, fold in the sides and roll up tightly. Dab the last corner with water to seal.
- Heat the oil in a deep pan to 170°C (340°F). Fry 3 or 4 rolls at a time for 4 to 5 minutes, turning, until the wrappers are deep golden and crisp. Drain on a rack.
- Melt the white sugar in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, without stirring, until it turns amber.
- Add the fried turon and roll them in the caramel for 20 to 30 seconds, until coated. Move them to parchment paper right away, because the caramel hardens fast.
- Cool for 5 minutes and serve warm.
Tips
- Saba bananas are firm and slightly tart, which holds up to frying. If you use regular bananas, pick ones that are just ripe and still firm, because soft bananas turn to mush.
- Seal the rolls well and fry them seam side down first so they do not open. Hot caramel can cause severe burns, so use tongs and keep children away from the stove.
Questions and answers
What are saba bananas?
Saba are short, thick Filipino cooking bananas that stay firm when cooked. They are sold in Asian markets, and firm plantains are the closest substitute.
Can I bake or air fry turon?
Yes. Brush the rolls with oil and air fry at 190°C (375°F) for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until golden. The wrapper is a little drier than when deep-fried.
How do I keep turon crisp?
Fry at a steady 170°C (340°F), drain on a rack and eat within an hour. The caramel coating helps protect the crispness.
How long does it take to make Turon (Filipino Fried Banana and Jackfruit Spring Rolls)?
About 1 h in total: 25 min of preparation and 35 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Turon (Filipino Fried Banana and Jackfruit Spring Rolls)?
About 214 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 38 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 214 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g |
| Fat | 6 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 40 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
