What to Do With Mushy Bananas If You’re Tired of Banana Bread

I’m, sadly, an annoying banana shopper. I like them to be brilliant yellow and free from any hints of brown or inexperienced, although I’ll select a freckle or two over a inexperienced stem if pressured. (Unripe bananas have too many tannins, and people belong in wine.)

Having unreasonable banana requirements typically results in me having an unreasonable quantity of “mushy” bananas in my kitchen. My boyfriend will eat them if he’s round, however he’s solely right here half the week, and I don’t take pleasure in baking (or consuming) banana bread all that a lot. Happily, there are lots of issues you are able to do with mushy, or at the least very ripe bananas, none of which contain smoothies or baking.

Embrace Pinterest

I haven’t logged into my Pinterest account in half a decade, however there may be one recipe that has caught with me for at the least twice that lengthy. Frozen banana “ice cream” doesn’t style like ice cream, but it surely does style a lot better than it has any proper to. I bought actually into it for a second once I was dwelling in Florida and going to Weight Watchers conferences (which was a fairly darkish time), however I nonetheless eat the pretend ice cream, typically with cocoa powder, typically with a splash of vanilla. (You may also form the frozen “ice cream” into little balls, then roll them round in cereal or chocolate chips earlier than returning to the freezer to make tasty little frozen banana bites.)

These two-ingredient banana pancakes have been additionally fairly common on Pinterest, most likely as a result of they’re naturally gluten-free. I’ve personally by no means tried them, however I do know a number of mothers who’ve made them for his or her kids, and the youngsters loved them fairly a bit. All you want is bananas, eggs, and a few baking powder (optionally available, but it surely helps to fluff them up).

You may also make banana pops, one other frozen deal with that’s rather more scrumptious than it has any proper to be. The bananas should be considerably agency—at the least agency sufficient to have a stick inserted into them and never disintegrate. When you’ve bought the stick in, place them on a parchment- or wax paper-lined baking sheet and pop them within the freezer for quarter-hour. In the meantime, make some two-ingredient magic shell. Dip the bananas within the magic shell, sprinkle them with peanuts or sprinkles or no matter, them pop them again within the freezer till the chocolate is totally set.

Make banana pudding (or a banana pudding milk shake)

In case your bananas are very ripe however nonetheless a bit of agency, banana pudding is the best way to go. Regardless of the title, the pudding portion of banana pudding is often not banana flavored, however overly-ripe, candy banana slices are proper at residence in between layers of custard and Nilla Wafers. You can also make it with custard powder or instant pudding mix, or you will get a bit of ridiculous and sous vide your custard. (Additionally, don’t overthink it: The recipe printed on the box of Nilla Wafers is excellent.)

In case your bananas completely refuse to carry a form of any type, toss them within the blender and make a banana pudding milkshake. I assume you may additionally make a smoothie, however these are markedly much less enjoyable.

Attempt some Australian recipes

I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot concerning the delicacies of Australia, however I love the moxie they show on Australia’s Finest Recipes, notably their recipe for banana meatballs. Including bananas to meatballs will for positive ship your nearest Italian right into a tizzy, however I believe the transfer is smart: Bananas add moisture and sweetness, in addition to a pleasant little bit of tropical pizzaz!

The identical website additionally has a simple recipe for banana fritters, that are similar to the two-ingredient banana pancakes, however, uh, higher (as a result of they’re fried). I am keen on a recipe that features self-rising flour, which suggests I’m extremely excited to strive the fritters as soon as I get my arms on some mushy bananas. All you must do is mash the nanners with the flour (and a bit of further baking soda), then fry them in oil. Eat them with ice cream.

Make banana ketchup

Banana ketchup is a Filipino sauce that’s scrumptious on burgers, fried hen, tortang talong, Filipino spaghetti (which additionally contains sizzling canines), and plain rice. Food52 has a fascinating writeup on the sauce’s origin and creator, Maria Orosa. (Maria was not solely the inventor of the favored condiment, however a meals chemist and activist.)

I do not need a recipe for banana ketchup (as a result of I’m not Filipino), however there are lots of to be discovered on-line, together with this one from chef Lou Boquila, and this one from Serious Eats. It’s the right strategy to combine up your banana consumption, particularly in case you’re bored with baking banana bread.

What are your favourite methods to make use of up mushy bananas, and the way mushy do you allow them to get? (Is there anybody on the market who likes ‘em inexperienced? Please establish your self within the feedback.)