Banana Cue
A simple and nostalgic Filipino street food snack made with ripe saba bananas coated in caramelized sugar.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 150kcal
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 8 to 10 pieces Saba bananas, ripe but firm If unavailable, use yellow plantains with a few black spots.
- 1 cup Brown sugar, loosely packed Light or dark works based on preference for caramel flavor.
- 1 to 1.5 inches Cooking oil Neutral oils like canola or vegetable are best.
- pinch Salt Optional, to balance the sweetness.
- as needed Skewers Bamboo or any sturdy stick for serving.
Instructions
Preparation
- Peel the saba bananas and trim the ends.
- Heat the oil in a heavy skillet or small pot over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
Frying Bananas
- Gently slide the bananas into the hot oil, making sure not to crowd them.
- Fry the bananas for about 2 to 3 minutes per side until they turn slightly golden.
- Adjust the heat as necessary to maintain steady medium heat.
Caramelizing Sugar
- Choose between two methods to coat the bananas with sugar.
- Method 1: Sugar-in-pan coat. Push bananas to the side, sprinkle brown sugar evenly into the oil, and gently move bananas through the melting sugar until coated.
- Method 2: Pre-melt syrup pour. In a saucepan, heat brown sugar with water until syrupy, then pour over fried bananas and toss to coat.
- Let the coated bananas sit for a minute to set, then skewer while warm.
Notes
Serve banana cue warm on skewers paired with iced tea. It's best fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container. Reheat gently to restore crisp. Avoid microwaving as it can make the sugar sticky.