Bananas have long been called “nature’s perfect food.” They’re chock full of vitamins and minerals, easily available year-round, and an ideal on-the-go snack.
Besides being nutritious, bananas are delicious and easy to incorporate into your favorite dishes. Take a look at some of these a-“peel”-ing banana inspired recipes.
Banana Split Pancakes
Use a store bought pancake mix for the base. Add 1 mashed ripe banana to the mix and stir vigorously. Gently fold in 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 cup flax seeds, and 1/4 cup coconut flakes. (Optional: 1 scoop of your favorite protein powder.) Pour 1/4 cup batter onto a hot griddle for each pancake to make the size uniform. Once pancakes are finished, plate 3 or 4 together in a stack and drizzle with light syrup, low fat whipped cream, nuts, and thinly sliced banana.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
Combine 1 banana, 1 cup almond milk, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, 3 ice cubes, and 1 tbsp cocoa powder in a blender. Blend for 30 seconds and enjoy.
Crispy Banana Chips
Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper. Coat paper lightly with olive oil. Slice 4 ripe bananas into 1/4 inch pieces. Coat each slice in lemon juice and line the slices on the pan in a single layer. Bake at 210 degrees for 6 hours for a crispy, wholesome snack.
Dark Chocolate Banana Bites
Cut two bananas into 1-inch slices. Freeze slices for 60 minutes. Heat 1 cup dark chocolate chips in the microwave or use a double-boiler until melted. Dip frozen banana slices into the melted chocolate right away and place coated slices on wax paper. Freeze for 10 more minutes to set, then serve.
Banana Monkey Bars
Prepare a box mix of banana bread per instructions, and incorporate 1 mashed ripe banana, 1/4 cup chia seeds, and 1/2 cup carob chips. Mix thoroughly. Bake in a 9 x 13 pan at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the middle of the pan. Allow bread to cool completely. Lightly drizzle melted almond butter, slice into squares, and serve. Yields about 12 bars.
So what are you waiting for? Go bananas in your kitchen today and enjoy some of these sweet and healthy treats.
You can also enjoy bananas any time with That's it. Apple + Banana Fruit Bars. Stash a few in your bag for healthy snacks during the day. Kids love them too!