In case you haven’t worked it out yet, in Mauritius, we deep fry everything. And deep fried delicacies do not get much more more-ish than Gato Banann. Read on to learn about this traditional Gato Delwil and find out how you can easily make them at home.
INGREDIENTS
7
RECIPE STEPS
5
TOTAL TIME
30 m
Why You Need This Recipe
- This recipe is so easy to make and can be done in 30 minutes
- This is a fool-proof basic Gato Banann recipe which can be customised by adding different spices
- This recipe can very easily be made vegan or dairy free by using a plant-based milk such as coconut, oat or soy milk and leaving out the egg
About Gato Banann
Gato Banann is a Mauritian deep-fried snack made by frying a banana batter that consists of ripe banana, flour and milk. It is essentially a banana fritter and there are many variations of this snack made around the world.
In French, it is known as Gateau Banane. In Chinese it is called 炸香蕉 which directly translates to ‘fried banana’. And in Vietnamese, it is known as Chuối Chiên.
Even though each recipe is slightly different, this is one of those amazing dishes that brings together every part of my heritage and I love imagining that at some point in time my ancestors, in their different parts of the world, were enjoying the same snack. I hope you enjoy it too.
What You Will Need
Deep Frying Pan
While you can oil fry in a shallow pan, using a deep frying pan will actually reduce the amount of time your food spends in contact with oil. As a result, it will feel and taste less oily.
Star Ingredient
Bananas (Banann)
Undoubtedly, bananas are one of the world’s most popular and versatile fruits. These sweet and delicious fruits are packed with essential nutrients and are a great source of energy. As a matter of fact, they are rich in vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, and potassium.
READ MORE: Why Bananas are such as popular ingredient in Chinese & Mauritian cuisine →
Other Ingredients
- Self-Raising Flour
- Caster Sugar
- Baking Powder
- Milk, whole
- Egg (optional)
- Oil, for frying
Scroll to the bottom to find the full list of ingredients and detailed recipe.
Prepping Tips
It is important to drain the oil from deep-fried foods like Gato Banann. There are a few reasons why:
- It can improve the taste by allowing the natural flavours to come through.
- It can improve the texture by removing the excess oil and leaving the deep-fried food lighter and less greasy.
- It is healthier because draining the oil removes the extra fat and calories.
When I am deep-frying anything, I like to line a plate with a couple of sheets of paper towel to soak up the excess oil. Generally, I find this is enough to drain the oil to my liking.
However, my mum is very health-conscious and uses an oil draining rack on her frying pot to remove more of the oil.
So, if you are also watching your cholesterol levels or simply wanting to consume less oil, you can use an oil draining rack like the one below to make your fried foods a little bit healthier.
Complete Recipe Steps
Here’s a summary of the steps you need to follow to make Gato Banann.
1
Peel the bananas into a large bowl and roughly mash with a fork.
2
Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, milk and egg (if you are using) to the bananas and mix well. You should get a thick batter about the consistency of porridge or cooked oatmeal.
Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe card
3
Heat up the oil for frying and when the oil is ready, drop a tablespoon of batter into the hot oil for each ball of Gato Banann.
4
5
How to Serve Gato Banann
Gato Banann are best served once they are well drained of oil but while they are still hot. Moreover, you can keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
If they are kept for longer than 2 days, they will start to lose their texture and taste stale. To keep Gato Banann for longer, you can freeze them for up to 2 months. Simply reheat in the oven or air fryer before eating.
Recipe FAQs
How can I spice up this Gato Banann recipe for some variety?
You can add different combinations of spices to this basic Gato Banann recipe to get other delicious flavours:
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder and ½ tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp cardamon powder and 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds and 1 tsp vanilla essence
Can Gato Banann be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze Gato Banann after frying to extend its life and freshness. Simply let the Gato Banann cool down completely, then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
To reheat, simply place the frozen Gato Banann in a preheated oven or air fryer until heated through.
Printable Recipe Card
Gato Banann
Equipment
- 1 24 cm deep-frying pan
Ingredients
- 4 bananas medium ripened
- 125 g self-raising flour
- 2-3 tbsp caster sugar
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 250 ml milk whole
- 1 egg optional
- rice bran oil for deep-frying
Complete Recipe Steps
- Peel the bananas into a large bowl and roughly mash with a fork.4 bananas
- Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, milk and egg (if you are using) to the bananas and mix well. You should get a thick batter about the consistency of porridge or cooked oatmeal.125 g self-raising flour, 2-3 tbsp caster sugar, ½ tsp baking powder, 250 ml milk, 1 egg
- Heat up the oil for frying and when the oil is ready, drop a tablespoon of batter into the hot oil for each ball of Gato Banann.rice bran oil
- Deep fry the Gato Banann until golden brown before removing from the oil and allowing to drain on a paper towel.
- Serve Gato Banann once they are well-drained but still hot!
Notes
- The whole milk can be substituted with a plant-based milk such as soy milk, coconut milk or oat milk. You can even substitute it with water if you don’t have any milk readily available.
- Adding egg to the Gato Banann recipe can further add structure and moisture. However, if you or anyone you are cooking for has dietary restrictions, then the egg is not necessary.Fortunately, the bananas more than make up for the absence of the eggs in providing structure and moisture.
- There are many different spice combinations you can add to this basic Gato Banann recipe to get a variety of flavours. I’ve listed a few for you below:
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder and ½ tsp vanilla essence
- 1 tsp cardamon powder and 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds and 1 tsp vanilla essence
Miam Miam. The Mauritian way of saying yummy.
Thanks for the recipe, done this afternoon, I just multiplied everything by 1.5 since I have five kids 😀
You’re very welcome. We’re thrilled that you used our recipe!