Turon is a typical street food that Filipinos of all ages enjoy. It is a popular afternoon snack, prepared by street vendors. Turon is made of sliced bananas, wrapped and rolled like a spring roll, and then fried until golden.
In this recipe, I was inspired by the Netflix series “Chef Chico,” which tells the story of a mother who works as a waitress and receives at the table a man with his young son. When she realizes that it is her son, whom she has never seen since he was born because she had him when she was only 16 years old and did not have the conditions to raise him, she gave him to the father’s family. Listening to the conversation between the child and the father, she finds out that the child will move permanently with the father to Japan. She rushes to the kitchen and tells Chef Chico, who tells her: “Let’s make a memorable and unforgettable dinner for him” and prepares these delicious turons, a very easy recipe that originally is made with bananas saba, which are small yellow bananas, and are those traditionally used for turon. Saba bananas can be found in any Asian market or in certain supermarkets.
This adaptation of the recipe consists of frying fruits wrapped in lumpia or spring roll dough, which are usually found in the frozen section of local Asian markets, in the package. Wonton wrappers will also work, but they are slightly different.
Ingredients:
8-10 servings
1 green apple
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 bananas
1 peach
5 strawberries
Half a mango
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
Enough vegetable oil to fry (you can make them in the air fryer)
Preparation:
1. Cut the green apples into small cubes and place them in water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook them in a medium skillet until they begin to caramelize, then transfer them to a plate to cool.
2. Cut the bananas diagonally into equal parts.
3. Cut the strawberries as small as possible, as well as the mango and peach.
4. Place the lumpia leaf and place the banana, apple preparation, and the other chopped fruits (do not exaggerate in placing too much so that they do not break). Wrap it as if it were a letter envelope and seal the edges with water so that they stick well and do not open when frying.
5. If you are going to fry them, heat plenty of oil and fry them side by side. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
6. If you want to make them in the air fryer, mix the sugar with the cinnamon and, with a kitchen brush, sprinkle them with butter, then pass them through the sugar and cinnamon and place them in the air fryer for 6 minutes on one side at 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn them over and cook for another 6 minutes to brown them on all sides. Serve with Dulce de Leche (optional) and chocolate (optional).
