Recipes for Over Ripe Bananas

Bananas are one of my favourite fruits, and they are convenient to pack in lunch boxes. But I have quite a small family and fruit doesn't last long in our house.

Whenever I buy a bunch of bananas, I tend to get a larger pack as it works out more cost effective in the supermarket. However, a week later I’ll discover a couple have been eaten and the rest have ripened and turned black. This is not so great on the shopping budget.

Luckily bananas still have their uses even when they are beginning to turn to mush. They may not be great to snack on at lunch time, but they can be great for cooking.

Left over bananas need not go to waste!

There are so many recipes to make with ripened bananas. Banana bread and banana fritters tend to come to mind, but because bananas go with a variety of flavours you can vary the recipes to make them different.

For example, you can have any flavour ice-cream to go with your fritters, or pour on a caramel or Irish whiskey cream sauce. It doesn't have to be the same each time.

Banana bread is great when you want to use up your bananas. Make it in a loaf tin and keep in an airtight container for a sweet treat, or when the kids come home from school.

Ingredients

• 285g/ 10oz Plain Flour
• 1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
• ½ Tsp Salt
• 110g/4oz Butter
• 225g/8oz Caster Sugar
• 2 Large Eggs
• 4 Ripened Bananas, Mashed
• 85ml/3 fl oz Milk
• 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 2oz/50g Walnuts Chopped (Optional)

For a chocolate version, add 50g/2oz Plain Chocolate Chips

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180c/350f/Gas 4

Using an electric whisk, cream together the butter and caster sugar until light and creamy

Slowly add the eggs, bananas, milk and vanilla extract, beating well

Sift in the flour, bicarbonate and salt (and optional walnuts and chocolate chips), folding into the mixture

Add the mixture to a greased loaf tin (20cm x 12.5cm) and cook in the centre of the pre-heated oven, for approximately 1 hour.

When the banana bread is golden brown and springs up when pressed in the middle, bring out of the oven to cool. Turn onto a wire rack after 10 minutes, cool then enjoy!

For a quick and easy dessert, why not make banana pancakes?

Ingredients

• 100g/4oz Self Raising Flour
• 100ml Milk
• 1 Medium Egg
• 1oz Oil for frying
• 2oz Light Brown Sugar
• 1 Ripe Banana, Roughly Mashed
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon

Method

In a bowl, mix the flour, salt, sugar and cinnamon.

Make a well in the centre and break in the egg. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking at the same time using a large whisk.

Once the batter is a smooth consistency, mix in the banana.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, coating the bottom of the pan.

Ladle in some of the batter to form a pancake. After a few minutes the underside will brown and will be able to be flipped over. Cook both sides until golden brown.

Cook all of the pancakes, serving with chopped bananas and maple syrup or toffee sauce.

This is a great way to get fruit into your children, and use up those bananas too!

It can be varied, using different fruit depending on what you like.

Banana and Berry Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 Banana
• 1 cup Mixed Berries
• 1 Cup Ice Cubes
• 1 Cup Low Fat Plain Yogurt
• 1 Tbsp Honey
• Splash Orange Juice

Method

Using a blender or a smoothie maker, add the banana chopped along with the fruit.

Start to blend, adding the honey, yogurt, ice and orange juice. Once it is of smooth consistency, pour into a glass and serve.

This recipe can be used with milk instead of yogurt, and with any fruit such as strawberries or mango.

You can even make a banoffee smoothie, adding a spoonful of caramel condensed milk to banana, milk and ice cubes.

One for the Kids...

Ingredients

• 1 Ripe Banana
• 1 Pack of Chocolate Buttons (use milk chocolate, white chocolate or both)

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6

Make a slit down the side of the banana using a sharp knife.

Slot the chocolate buttons through the slit into the banana.

Wrap in tin foil and bake for around 10 to 15 minutes.

Allow to cool before serving.

A family favourite of mine has to be banana and chocolate muffins, made with mashed banana and cocoa, or chocolate chips.

There are so many ways to cook with over ripe bananas. You an even make savoury dishes, baking banana with streaky bacon!