Sweet apple bananas, rolled in brown sugar, folded in a lumpia / spring roll wrapper and deep fried! Who doesn't love hot and fresh banana lumpia? Also known as turon, this delicious Filipino dessert and snack is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. The bananas are hot and melty, made rich and caramel-like from the sugar. And the crisp, golden wrapper! What a combination. Whether you deep fry or use the air fryer, banana lumpia is easy to make.
Why This Recipe Works
Hooray for Banana Lumpia! We have so much good Filipino food in Hawaii and lumpia, both sweet and savory, is among one of the many treats. We even have businesses that specialize in lumpia!
You know it's going to be a good potluck when auntie shows up with a tray of hot lumpia ^_^
Today we are making banana lumpia. This Filipino fried banana dessert makes for a super onolicious dessert or snack. Banana lumpia is tasty at room temperature but incredible fresh out of the fryer.
Whenever I fry up a batch of banana lumpia at home, everyone gathers around the kitchen counter for the tasty. It's so much fun to make and everyone loves it.
This is an easy recipe with only 3 ingredients: apple bananas (or regular bananas), brown sugar, and lumpia wrappers. You just roll the halved bananas in brown sugar. Then wrap it with the lumpia wrapper. Fry and eat!
Banana lumpia is deep fried (we just use a small pan/pot so that we can use as little oil as possible). You can also make it in the air fryer.
What Are Apple Bananas?
This recipe calls for apple bananas. Apple bananas are smaller and sweeter than "regular" bananas. They are also shorter, about a finger's length. We can find apple bananas easily in Hawaii. If you're on the mainland, check an Asian supermarket for apple bananas.
In place of apple bananas, you can also use saba bananas or plantains.
Can you use regular bananas? You can but...
Regular bananas won't taste the same, though they are much easier to find. You should definitely still try this recipe with regular bananas. Just make sure to cut the regular bananas in half (because are much longer than apple bananas) before cutting them in half lengthwise.
Banana Lumpia Versus Turon
Turon is the Filipino name for banana lumpia. When you hear people say Filipino turon, they are referring to banana lumpia. But!
The traditional turon also includes a few slices of jackfruit. So when I hear turon, I automatically think that jackfruit is included.
But when I hear banana lumpia, I don't assume there will also be jackfruit in there.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need:
- 8 apple bananas (or saba bananas or plantains).
- ¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar.
- 16 lumpia wrappers - these are wheat flour wrappers. You can find this at most Asian markets. They can also be labeled as "spring roll pastry" wrappers. Do not get the clear/translucent dried rice paper wrappers.
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying).
Now let's get cooking!
Step by Step Directions
We also included step by step photos with the directions below. Hope this is helpful ^_^
Peel the apple bananas. Cut each banana in half lengthwise.
If using regular bananas, cut them in half the short way first. And then cut them in half lengthwise.
Pour the brown sugar out onto a shallow plate. Roll each banana piece in the brown sugar...
...make sure the banana is evenly coated in the sugar.
You should have a whole plate of sugar-coated bananas!
Put one lumpia wrapper on a plate. Position it so that one corner of the wrapper points towards you.
Place a banana half on the bottom third of the wrapper (place the banana horizontally).
Fold the wrapper upwards over the banana, and then fold in the sides.
Continue folding upwards till you reach the end of the wrapper. Seal the wrapper with a dab of water.
Heat a pot of oil to medium high heat. Deep fry the banana lumpia for about 3-5 minutes until they are golden and crisp.
You can fry in a pot or pan. I try to use a pan so that we can use less oil.
Remove the banana lumpia from the oil and place it on a rack, in a strainer, or use paper towels. This is to let the excess oil drain.
Eat hot (though be careful, it is really hot), and enjoy!
You can also use an air fryer to cook the banana lumpia.
Preheat the air fryer and cook the banana lumpia at 400F for 6 minutes (turn them halfway through, so cook for about 3 minutes on each side).
Note: The air fryer version will be tasty though not as golden and beautiful as banana lumpia that are deep fried. Compare the air fryer and regular fried version in the photo above ^_^
FAQs and Tips
Banana lumpia is best fresh, hot from the fryer (though let it sit a few minutes before eating). Leftovers can be reheated in the toaster oven the next day.
There are endless variations. Here are a few ideas:
Roll the bananas in white sugar instead of brown sugar.
Roll the just-fried banana lumpia in plain sugar. This makes a sugar-dusted lumpia.
Add a few slices of jackfruit on top of the banana before you wrap the lumpia. No need to roll the jackfruit in sugar.
Ice cream! Whipped cream! Dip it in caramel sauce. Or just plain. Either way, it is so delicious.
Banana Lumpia Recipe / Turon Recipe
See below and enjoy ^_^
Banana Lumpia
Sweet apple bananas, rolled in brown sugar, folded in a lumpia / spring roll wrapper and fried! Who doesn't love fresh banana lumpia? Also known as turon, this delicious Filipino dessert and snack is a crowd pleaser. The bananas are hot and melty, made rich and almost caramel-like from the sugar. And the crisp, golden wrapper! What a combination. Best part? It's so easy to make!
Ingredients
- 8 apple bananas (or saba bananas or plantains)
- ¼ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
- 16 lumpia wrappers
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for deep frying)
Instructions
- Peel the apple bananas. Cut each banana in half lengthwise.
- Pour the brown sugar out on a plate. Roll each banana half in the brown sugar, making sure the banana is evenly coated in the sugar.
- Plate one lumpia wrapper on a plate. Make sure one corner of the wrapper is pointing towards you. Place a banana half on the bottom third of the wrapper (place the banana horizontally).
- Fold the wrapper upwards over the banana, and then fold in the sides. Continue folding upwards and then seal the wrapper with a dab of water.
- Heat a pot of oil to medium high heat. Deep fry the banana lumpia for 3-5 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Drain on a rack or paper towels. Eat hot (though be careful, it is really hot), and enjoy!
- P.S. You can also cook the banana lumpia in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer and cook the banana lumpia at 400F for 6 minutes total (turn them halfway through, so 3 minutes on each side).
Daniel
Saturday 26th of November 2022
I stumbled across your wonderful blog and found this recipe that takes me back. I remember being in elementary school on the islands making this in class! Although I have left the islands many years ago...the islands never left me. Time to dust off the air fryer and see if i cant remake this classic.
Aloha from far far away.
Kathy
Tuesday 29th of November 2022
Aloha Daniel! Such happy and delicious memories! Hope you enjoy the recipe :) - Kathy
Alan
Sunday 31st of July 2022
Now this is something I gotta find for my wife when we come back to HNL in October. First of all, she loves bananas and I want her to taste those sweet, small, apple bananas! I know she will love it. Maybe I can find some in the Maunakea Marketplace for her.
Kathy
Monday 1st of August 2022
Hi Alan! Check out “J & S Lumpia Spot” when you are back in Honolulu. They make all sorts of lumpia, sweet and savory. Fried to order! It’s in Salt Lake, at 4369 Lawehana Street #A-1. - Kathy
Jeanne
Thursday 28th of July 2022
Banana with fresh *Jackfruit* caught my attention. That sounds so good. I'm curious to see how this performs in an air fryer. I feel that if you can get the skin just as crispy, there's a whole world of eggroll type foods that opens up.
In totally unrelated news, our Costco is currently featuring a whole island of foods produced in Hawaii. Of course that would be your regular Costco, haha. Every time I see it, I think of you and your wonderful blog.
Kathy
Monday 1st of August 2022
Hi Jeanne! It's super delicious with fresh jackfruit! We also make it with canned jackfruit which is good (though nothing beats fresh). We often cook half the batch in the air fryer so that there is a "healthier" option haha. I've haven't been able to get it as crisp or golden as a regular fryer, but still delicious. So cool about the Hawaii section of your Costco, love it! Thank you for the kind words :) - Kathy