MalagasyMofo akondro
Banana fritters
Mofo akondro: sweet battered banana slices fried golden, a Malagasy snack-stall favourite
Wherever bananas pile up on market tables, from Toamasina on the east coast to the roadside stalls near Moramanga, someone is frying mofo akondro to sell warm in twists of paper. Ripe banana is cut into thick slices, dipped in a soft, vanilla-scented batter of flour, egg and milk, and fried until the coating puffs and crisps while the fruit inside turns jammy and sweet. Children love them after school, and they make an easy dessert with a dusting of sugar. Underripe bananas are the common mistake: they stay starchy and sour, so wait until the skins are well freckled with brown. Chef's tip: let the batter rest for 10 minutes before you dip, so the flour hydrates and the coating clings evenly instead of sliding off in the oil.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 330 kcal
Ingredients
For the batter
- 4 oz plain flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp caster sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the bananas
- 4 ripe bananaswell freckled, peeled, cut into 3 cm slices on the diagonal
- 2 cups sunflower oilfor shallow frying
- 2 tbsp icing sugar or caster sugar (optional)for dusting
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Whisk 4 oz plain flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tbsp caster sugar and 1 pinch salt in a bowl.
Step 2: Beat 1 egg with ¾ cup milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract, then whisk into the dry ingredients to make a smooth batter that coats the back of a spoon thickly. Leave to rest.
10 minStep 3: Heat 2 cups sunflower oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat to about 350°F, until a drop of batter sizzles and floats within a couple of seconds.
5 minStep 4: Dip slices of 4 ripe bananas in the batter, letting the excess drip off, and lower them into the oil a few at a time.
Step 5: Fry, turning once, until puffed and deep golden on both sides.
3 minStep 6: Drain on kitchen paper and repeat with the rest. Dust with 2 tbsp icing sugar or caster sugar and serve warm; the banana inside is very hot, so warn small children.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mofo akondro take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of baking powder?
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda + ½ tsp cream of tartar per 1 tsp.
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