Filipino Turon (Fried Banana Lumpia)
Have you ever been stranded at the airport? Well, long story short, my brother en route to Argentina for his college business program got stranded at the (furthest possible) airport last month. I received this phone call at 12 am, amidst torrential rains and flash flood warnings, right as I’m about to go to bed.
Hans: Hey, uh, Achie (big sister) my friend and I are stranded at the airport, and there’s no hotel vouchers… so you have the great joy of staying up late and driving to get us. Thanks.
I had not seen my brother since Christmas (he had fallen asleep and missed his bus, and thus, the only family reunion earlier this year), so I was not expecting to see him for another several months. It was a nice to meet up, although circumstances were less than ideal.
Chef Uy: *grumbling/driving through the floods at 1 am* You’re damn lucky you’re my favorite brother!
Since I was not prepared for guests, I literally had no food. My +6 ft teenage brother was rather dismayed when he opened the fridge at 2 am, starving.
Hans: Oh my God, I knew it! This is EXACTLY what I expected in Achie’s fridge. There’s no real food – just some rotting bananas, fat free Greek yogurt, and, ugh, vegetables!
It didn’t help my cause, when after hearing I had cereal, he reached for a chocolate cereal box (“this looks promising”) and I said, “Ah, that’s my roommate’s. Here’s mine,” and I whip out my fiber bran flakes. His withering facial expression was priceless.
Those “rotting bananas” were actually my lovingly ripened plantains. I had wanted to make turon/banana lumpia, a popular Filipino snack. The problem was that I didn’t have anyone to feed them too, so I couldn’t make them. But with two lost college boys to feed now, I had the perfect opportunity. I rolled the plantains in lumpia wrappers, and Hans fried them nicely. We enjoyed a hearty Filipino breakfast with longanisa (Filipino sausage), eggs, rice, and turon.
Although, it was only a day, it was great to catch up, as Filipino culture is all about family. That’s what Achies/big sisters are for – rescuing little brothers during airflight fiascos!
Filipino Turon (Fried Banana Lumpia)
Ingredients
spring roll wrappers
2-3 ripe plantains or cooking bananas (saba)
strips of jackfruit (optional)
1/2 cup brown sugar
Cooking oil, for frying
Directions
Separate the spring roll wrappers, and cut the bananas lengthwise into 2-3 inch pieces. Lay the wrapper on a plate, dip the banana (and jackfruit) in sugar and layer along diagonally. Fold starting at the end of the wrapper with the filling, fold the 2 sides in, then roll up to the end. Seal the end with water.
Heat up the oil in medium heat and fry the turon with the sealed end side down first (to keep it sealed). Cook until golden brown, then flip to fry the other side, and once slightly browned, sprinkle sugar onto the oil to caramelize. Serve warm and eat fresh.
Another option is to bake them in the oven at 375F until golden brown, about 20-30 min. Serve fresh (baked turon seems to lose crispiness faster). I’ve tried both ways, and I have to say I prefer the fried version, but both are delicious!
Turon rolling tips: Cut the bananas/plantains lengthwise for easier rolling. The size of saba (small plantains) are nicely suited for small spring roll wrappers. Also don’t be afraid of adding sugar, as plantains are NOT nearly as sweet as bananas (make sure they are almost black for full ripeness).
PS. Don’t eat plantains raw no matter how good they seem. They taste terrible unless cooked.
What an absolute disaster of a plane trip
I ate one last week…
…Hans saw you 5 weeks ago…
…
It was delicious but how old was the turon I ate?!
hahah you are the best big sister ever!!! Your posts are always filled with so much life, humor, and delicious food!! I have an aversion to deep frying food at home, but I love that you can bake these beauties!
Lol, don't worry, yours was freshly baked. I tested it again – first time fried, second time baked.
Baked is usually the way I prefer most foods, but I confess I have a soft spot for fried turon hehe
I've never tried making lumpia, but have always wanted to attempt it! :O I'm terrible at frying things, but this is too good to not attempt! 😛
and you ate me out of house and home lol!
Hey Farrah, baking it is easier and less messy (and healthier!), so you can definitely do that version too
Ooh! Natalie, this looks so delicious! I love the idea of the crispy wrappers with the sweet and soft bananas – what a great combo. You're such a great sister – family is love! XO
Haha- with making a late night, last minute rescue call like that it sounds like he's really lucky to have you as an older sister! I loved the part about your lovingly ripened bananas- that's how most of mine look (by choice- I like them like that!) but most people are horrified by my almost-blackened bananas….guess I need to give them a try in some spring rolls now!
You and your brother are fortunate to have each other! It is what I keep telling my kids – from the cradle to the grave they really have only each other.
Lumpia has always been a favorite pick at our potlucks at work (we are quite fortunate to have a wide array of cultures represented), but I have been reluctant to try at home. I just might now…thanks for sharing!
you're as good a sister as you are a cook! these look amazing!
So glad I've discovered your blog!! Its beautiful! Bananas are my faaaaavourite but I've never tried them fried in spring roll wrappers before, it sounds like my dream dessert. I definitely need to try this. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks Beeta! Yep, I recommend using at least firmer bananas so they don't pulverize during the baking haha. But it's all tasty 🙂
Mom, my sister, and I purposefully make them black for baking – can't get good banana flavor otherwise. It grosses the hell out of my brother, dad, and my fiance though. Must be a gender thing lol
Yes blood's always thicker than water!
My godmother makes banana lumpia all the time for our Filipino get together – they disappear fast! Make them with family/friends so wrapping goes by swiftly
Fried bananas are always a win. Fried in crispy wrappers is a double win 🙂
Oh, BROTHERS. They always seem to find themselves in these situations, don't they?! ANd you are officially the best big sister ever!
these look delicious, i would love to try them!
Natalie,
What a cute story! I have 3 younger brothers so I can totally relate to the big sister save the day thing 🙂 and bananas are my favorite so I think I'll try these with sweet plantains and see how they come out!
Your doodles always make me smile, great job!
Brothers are brothers, they will always get our love and care. 🙂
3 younger brothers is quite a handful for you (and your poor mother) lol. I recommend plantains since they're firmer but make sure they're BLACK and you don't skimp on the brown sugar since they really are not sweet otherwise
I'm glad my doodle make you happy. They make me happy 🙂
Haha thanks. I concur but I'm just a little I'm biased in that 😉