What makes Banana Puff Puff a must-try dish in your home?
The original Puff Puff recipe is a popular deep-fried street food in Africa. In this recipe, the dough will be infused with bananas to add a sweet and floral flavor. In fact, it’s almost like banana bread rolled in balls!
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Eating Banana Puff Puff is fun because it’s crisp on the outside yet light and airy inside. If you like cake pops, then you will surely love these puff puffs.
How to Make Banana Puff Puff
You can make this dish in different flavors by learning how to make puff dough. Believe me; Banana Puff Puff is only one of the best flavors you can cook!
Ingredients
Once you have these ingredients, you can make Banana Puff Puff any time you want!
Plain flour
Puff puff dough starts with plain flour because it is the recipe’s base ingredient. It reacts with the yeast and water to activate the leavening effect. The flour also helps distribute the banana flavor to the entire dough.
Don’t worry; using this for deep frying is perfectly safe. I also use this for Nigerian Buns, Scotch Eggs, and Chin Chin!
Banana
The best bananas to use are ripe bananas. They have a sweet and floral taste that will improve with herbs and spices. Ripe ones are also easy to mash or puree because they are already soft.
I also love using bananas for this recipe because they are good for your stomach, energy, and overall health! Bananas are also my go-to fruits for bread, milkshakes, and fufu.
Dried active yeast
You will need dried active yeast to give the puff puff a fluffy and light texture. It also leavens the dough to allow it to expand as you deep fry. Additionally, the yeast doubles the volume of the dough, so you can make more puff puffs!
Seasoning
I suggest using cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt for the seasoning. They certainly give sweetness, nuttiness, and a rich taste throughout the dough. Moreover, these spices are easy to find and will last long.
Sunflower oil
Remember to use oil with a high smoke point when deep frying. Sunflower oil can help cook the puff puff without making them soggy or flat. It’s also an organic oil you can use for stir-frying!
You can easily store these ingredients in your kitchen. All you need to do is buy fresh ripe bananas every time you make it!
Directions
Follow this step-by-step guide to making Banana Puff Puff at home:
Make the dough
- Mix the plain flour, cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt in a bowl with a whisk.
- In a small glass bowl, combine yeast and water.
- Then, stir with a spatula and set it aside.
- Puree the ripe banana in a blender or mash it with a fork.
- Dig a well in the middle of the dry ingredients.
- Pour in the blended banana and yeast mixture.
- Whisk them together until well mixed.
- Add warm water.
- Swirl water where you blended the banana and pour it into the batter.
- Whisk until soft and thick.
- Then, cover it with cling film.
- Place a kitchen towel on top.
- Let it rest in a warm area for up to two hours to rise.
Deep fry the Banana Puff Puff
- Gently lower the dough into the pot of hot oil.
- Then, toss the puff puff in the oil with a skewer.
- Transfer them to a lined plate with a skimmer spoon.
- Allow them to cool and serve!
Banana Puff Puff does not get easier than this. Did they turn out as puffy as you imagined them to be? Take a bite and tell me how much you love the banana flavor in every puff puff!
Tips
Buying bananas
- Buy ripe yellow bananas with black or brown spots.
- Ensure that they are not too mushy.
- You can also buy unripe bananas to ripen over time.
- Discard bananas with bruises and holes.
Storing bananas
- Bananas can be stored at room temperature until ready for use.
- Once ripe, put them in the fridge to keep them longer.
- You can freeze peeled and chopped bananas to last for weeks.
Banana Puff Puff Variations
Whatever flavor you want to make, ensure you use the correct measurements for the dough. Instead of dried active yeast, you may use baking powder to leaven the mixture.
The seasoning is entirely up to you. Add herbs and spices that will make the dish taste better. In fact, you can make Classic Puff Puff or Coconut Puff Puff too!
Recommended Tools
- Pot: Deep fry the Banana Puff Puff in a pot.
- Blender: Puree the banana using a blender.
- Bowls: Prepare the dough and yeast mixture in bowls.
- Whisk: Mix the ingredients using a whisk.
- Spatula: Stir the yeast mixture with a spatula.
- Skimmer spoon: Remove the puff puff from the heat with a skimmer spoon.
- Cling film: Cover the dough using cling film.
- Kitchen towel: Put the kitchen towel over the cling film to leaven the dough properly.
- Skewer: Toss the puff puff in the oil with a skewer to cook evenly.
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How to Serve Puff Puff
Did you know that you can enjoy Banana Puff Puff like bread? You can serve them as appetizers, snacks, or side dishes with your favorite recipes.
Moreover, add more flavor with condiments like Almond Butter, Strawberry Jam, or Peanut Butter as filling. You can be as creative as you want, especially if you plan on serving this dish to kids.
Here are the best drinks to go with Banana Puff Puff:
Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Put the Banana Puff Puff in a container to keep at room temperature for several hours or overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are banana puffs made of?
Banana Puff Puffs are made of plain flour, ripe bananas, dried active yeast, seasoning, and oil! The dough is made of flour, yeast mixture, and bananas, giving it a high rise even after deep frying.
Do you put an egg in a puff puff?
You can add an egg to the Puff Puff, but it will no longer be a vegan recipe. I substituted eggs with water in this recipe to add moisture to the dough.
Why is my puff puff not thick?
If the puff puff is not thick, then it is likely due to the consistency of the batter or dough. Use just enough water to mix them until smooth and thick.
Can I leave my puff puff dough overnight?
No, puff puff dough is best stored in the fridge or freezer overnight or for several days. Once cooked, the puff puff can be kept at room temperature for a few days.
Banana Puff Puff
Ingredients
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 tsp dried active yeast
- 5 tbsp cane sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- A pinch sea salt
- ½ cup lukewarm water
- sunflower oil (enough to deep-fry)
Instructions
Make the dough
- Mix the plain flour, cane sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt in a bowl with a whisk.
- In a small glass bowl, combine yeast and water. Stir with a spatula and set it aside.
- Puree the ripe banana in a blender or mash it with a fork.
- Dig a well in the middle of the dry ingredients. Pour in the blended banana and yeast mixture. Whisk them together until well mixed. Add warm water.
- Swirl water where you blended the banana and pour into the batter. Whisk until soft and thick.
- Cover it with cling film. Place a kitchen towel on top. Let it rest in a warm area for up to two hours to rise.
Deep fry the Banana Puff Puff
- Gently lower the dough into the pot of hot oil.
- Toss the puff puff in the oil with a skewer.
- Transfer them to a lined plate with a skimmer spoon.
- Allow them to cool and serve!
Video
Notes
- Buy ripe bananas to give the puff puff a sweet and floral flavor.
- You can store the dough in the fridge or freezer.
- Make sure that the oil is hot enough before frying the dough.
Nutrition
