Learn how to make banana lumpia — tasty Filipino treats made with bananas, spring roll wrappers, coconut cream and more.
Banana Lumpia! Not to be confused with Lumpiang Sariwa. You’ve seen them foodtrucks, or at some authentic Filipino restaurant events – little square-shaped pieces of banana leaves wrapped around a sweet ground pork filling.
Banana Lumpia
Simple, deep-fried banana dessert. I’m unsure of cooking time because I’ve never timed myself. I use frozen lumpia wrappers I find at my local Asian store. P.S. This is great with ice cream.
Recipe Summary
Cook:20 mins
Total:30 mins
Prep:10 mins
Servings:8
Yield:8 servings
Ingredients
Decrease Serving8Increase ServingAdjustOriginal recipe yields 8 servingsIngredient Checklist
- oil for deep frying
- ¼ cup brown sugar, or as needed
- 6 large bananas, halved crosswise and then lengthwise
- 24 lumpia wrappers, defrosted
- 1 tablespoon water, or as needed
Directions
Instructions Checklist
- Step 1 – Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Step 2 – Place brown sugar in a shallow bowl. Roll each banana quarter in the brown sugar until coated. Wrap a lumpia wrapper around each coated banana, sealing the last edge to the roll using a spoon or your finger dipped in water. Repeat with the remaining bananas and wrappers.
- Step 3 – Working in batches, fry lumpia in the hot oil until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Transfer cooked lumpia to a paper towel-lined plate using a slotted spoon. Some sugar may leak out the sides of the lumpia while cooling.
Banana Lumpia Recipe
Once you see the final product, it’s clear that this sweet treat is essentially a banana spring roll. While it might look like it requires advanced skills, Olayinka reassures home cooks and remarks, “I just love that it’s so simple but tastes so delicious.” You will only need three ingredients and some oil for deep frying to whip up these heavenly banana lumpia. There’s lots of room for experimentation here, so start with the basics and then venture beyond.
Gather the ingredients for banana lumpia
There are very few ingredients required for this dessert which certainly adds to its appeal. You will need bananas for the spring roll filling. Olayinka explains, “This is traditionally made with something called Apple bananas.” Unfortunately, she notes, “They are quite difficult to find if you don’t live in a tropical climate.” Unless you are located somewhere with Apple bananas or can find them in a specialty store, the standard variety will do. Olayinka notes that they differ a bit in that “regular bananas are curvier, whereas Apple bananas are fairly straight bananas which are a bit sweeter.”
Next, brown sugar is used to add sweetness and caramelization to the bananas. Lumpia sheets or spring roll wrappers are used to wrap the bananas. If you’re wondering where to find them, Olayinka suggests checking larger supermarkets or Asian grocery stores. Finally, vegetable oil is required to fry the lumpia, and be sure to choose one with a high smoke point. If you want to add some extra flavor for service, Olayinka recommends sprinkling some very fine sugar or drizzling caramel sauce on top.
Slice the bananas so that they’re straight
The first task is to prepare your bananas so that they are more similar to the shape of an Apple banana. If you were able to find this less common variety, then you won’t have as much to slice off. Start by setting the bananas on a cutting board with their skin still on. Chop off the top and the bottom, then slice them each vertically in half. Olayinka explains, “When you slice it down the middle without [the] skin, it tends to fall apart easily.” Once you have sliced them in half, the skin can come off.
Next, slice off the top and the bottom of the banana again. Here, Olayinka remarks that the purpose is “to remove the curve from each banana,” adding that “you can’t have curvy lumpia.” She warns that “the paper won’t hold onto it — it needs to be straight.” If you are wondering what to do with the banana tips, Olayinka shares her advice: “I used any extra bananas for smoothie freezer bags!”
Coat the bananas in brown sugar
Now that your slices of banana are lined up and ready to go, it’s time to sweeten the dish. Set out a plate, and spread out ¼ cup of brown sugar flat on the surface. Next, one by one, roll each banana slice in the sugar making sure to coat it on both sides. As you complete a banana, set it aside until it is time to use it for the next step.
Wrap the sliced bananas in lumpia sheets
It’s now time to roll up the banana lumpia. Thankfully, the technique is not as hard as it looks. Set out a lumpia sheet on a flat surface, and place one of the bananas horizontally in a corner. Now, fold the corner of the sheet over the banana, then fold either side of the sheet into the middle. Next, holding the banana, start to roll it forward so that it becomes wrapped in the lumpia sheet. Once you approach the end of the sheet, use a pastry brush to spread some water on the corner to seal the sheet shut.
If you’re thinking of rolling your banana lumpia ahead of time, Olayinka warns that they run the risk of drying out. She notes, “The paper dries out very quickly unless it’s surrounded by something damp, so [it’s] best to make [them] fresh.” Otherwise, be sure to cover them with a moist tea towel.
Fry the banana lumpia in hot oil
It’s now time to cook the banana lumpia, so set a pot with 2 cups of vegetable oil on the stovetop on medium-high heat. Once the oil comes to temperature, carefully add the lumpia into the hot oil. (You may have to do this in batches, depending on the size of your pot.) Fry the lumpia for a total of three minutes, flipping them halfway through so that they cook evenly.
As you remove the lumpia from the oil, transfer them to a plate to cool down before serving. You can place a piece of paper towel to absorb excess oil, if desired.
Turon Recipe (Banana Lumpia with Caramel)
Turon is a type of Filipino snack. It is also called deep-fried banana rolls or banana lumpia. A typical Filipino meryenda and dessert, Turon has gained popularity throughout the years.
This sweet snack can usually be seen on the streets being peddled along with bananacue or even vegetable lumpia. It is easy to make and the ingredients are inexpensive.
How to Cook Turon
Start by preparing the filling. It is composed of a piece of saba banana that is sliced in half lengthwise, and a few slices of ripe jackfruit. Dredge the banana in sugar until completely coated. You may use either brown or white sugar. Arrange the banana on a lumpia wrapper and place the jackfruit slices on top of the banana. Secure the filling by wrapping. Refer to the video below on how to wrap turon. Perform this step until all the bananas are completely consumed.
The next step is to fry the banana lumpia until golden brown. However, there is an extra step to do in order to achieve the glaze on the outer part. The secret is to first pour the remaining sugar in hot oil. Wait for the sugar to melt completely, and then start to fry the wrapped bananas in batches. The caramel (melted sugar) should automatically stick on the wrapper as you fry. Remove the fried turon from the pan, and then let the excess oil drip. Let is cool down for 5 minutes before eating.
I like to have turon with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. I think that it makes a good dessert.
Try this delicious Turon Filipino Dessert Recipe. Let me know what you think.
Turon (Banana Lumpia with Caramel)
Banana Lumpia with Caramel – Turon Recipe Turon or Banana Lumpia is certainly not a new recipe. I am pretty sure most of us have heard of it or even had the same. But I think that we can all agree that when you combine two things in a recipe, it just becomes more delicious!
Turon, or banana lumpia with caramel, is one of the most popular street food in the Philippines. This delicious snack can be found anywhere – from small roadside vendors to large shopping centers.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces bananas saba or plantains, cut in half (lengthwise)
- 1 cup jackfruit ripe, sliced
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 12 pieces lumpia wrapper
- 2 cups cooking oil
Instructions
- Roll the banana on the sugar plate and ensure that the banana is coated with enough sugar
- Place the banana with sugar coating in the spring roll wrapper and add some ripe jackfruit
- Fold and lock the spring roll wrapper, use water to seal the edge
- In a pan, heat the oil and put-in some sugar.Wait until the brown sugar floats
- Put-in the wrapped banana and fry until the wrapper turns golden brown and the extra sugar sticks on wrapper
- Serve hot as a dessert or snack. Share and Enjoy!