Easy Cekodok Pisang or Mashed Banana Fritters Recipe

Mazlan is an engineer by profession and a lover of food. In his free time, he likes to tinker around in the kitchen.

Simple Mashed Banana Fritters Recipe using Only Two Ingredients

This mashed banana fritters recipe is one of Malaysia's favorite afternoon snack. It uses only two main ingredients, the overripe bananas, and self-rising flour. It is simple and tasty.

Although there are other variations for mashed banana fritters (or known as cekodok pisang or kuih kodok or jemput in Malaysia) using rice flour, normal flour, baking soda, eggs or even baking powder, you do not actually need them.

These additional ingredients will give 'puffier' looking mashed banana fritters and hence, look more presentable.

My version uses more bananas than flour to give you a slightly crispy outer layer, but soft and moist on the inside, and it is tastier.

As with most deep-fried food, cekodok pisang is greasy. It may not look nice, but trust me, it tastes nice. Enjoy it with your afternoon cup of coffee or tea.

Cekokok Pisang or Mashed Banana Fritters Recipe: Cook Time

Ingredients

• 5 big size bananas, (over ripe or bruised bananas. You can use any eating banana or over-ripe cooking banana variety)
• 1 cup self-rising flour, (this is an estimate and will be adjusted as you add to the mixture. See below for detail)
• pinch of salt
• 3 table spoon brown sugar, (You can leave this out if your banana is of the sweet variety)
• Oil for deep frying

Optional Ingredients for Cekodok Pisang or Mashed Banana Fritters

As an option, you can add a pinch of ground cinnamon and nutmeg to the mixture to give a spicy flavor. Personally, I prefer without these optional ingredients as it tastes more authentic and close to what my mum used to make.

Cooking Instruction

1. Peel and put the overripe bananas in a bowl. Then, mash it with a fork
2. Slowly add the self-rising flour until the mixture is of a consistency that can easily drop from a spoon in one lump. If you add too much flour, the end results will be hard, but well-shaped mashed banana fritters. You want a mixture that will give you a crispy skin on the outside, but soft on the inside. As different people will be using different banana variety and size, the self-rising flour amount is an estimate and will be adjusted as you pour into the mixture to get the right consistency that can easily drop from a spoon. If it is too soft and runny, then add a bit more self-rising flour. Add sugar and salt to the final mixture
3. Heat a wok or any deep frying pan. Then, add enough oil to deep fry.
4. Use a tablespoon to scoop the banana mixture into the wok (or frying pan) once the oil is medium hot. Depending on the size of your wok and the amount of oil used, you can fry four or five pieces at the same time.
5. Fry one side until it is medium brown. Then, turn over to fry the other side. This will take about 3-4 minutes.
6. Place the cooked cekodok pisang or mashed banana fritters on a kitchen paper towel.
7. Continue with step #4 until you finish all the mixture
8. You may serve it hot or cold. Enjoy.

Which Banana Variety to Use

For cekokok pisang or mashed banana fritters, any eating banana variety is suitable. The Cavendish variety that you get at most supermarkets will do just fine. (Cavendish bananas are the long, yellow and slightly sweet bananas. See side photo). If you use Cavendish banana you need to add sugar to the mixture (as per above). It is best to use the over-ripe or bruised Cavendish banana.

I used the pisang raja variety as it grows in my back garden. It is already sweet on its own and I do not add additional sugar to the mixture.

This Cekodok Pisang is Sold at Night Market and by Street Vendors

In Malaysia, cekodok pisang is usually sold by street vendors at busy streets in the afternoon. You can also buy them in the morning and at night markets.

Since the recipe and the preparation are simple, most housewives will prepare the mashed banana fritters themselves. Only the bachelors or busy working people will buy from the street vendors.

Health Benefits of Bananas

Banana is excellent food and a good energy source. It is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fibers. It is also inexpensive and easy to pack and bring with you to work.

It has iron, which promotes the development of hemoglobin in the body. It has potassium that helps to lessen high blood pressure. Potassium is also friendly to women who suffer from menstrual cramps and taking bananas will help lessen this pain. It has Vitamin B6 that aids in balancing the blood-glucose levels.

With all these health benefits, it is such a waste to throw away bruised and over-ripe bananas. They are still edible and there is no reason why you should throw them away.

You can find many recipes using over-ripe bananas that give tasty foods. This cekodok recipe is one of them. Other recipes that uses over-ripe bananas are:

• Banana Bread
• Banana Cake
• Banana Muffin
• Banana Milkshake
• Banana Flapjack
• Banana Pancake

If you Google for 'over-ripe banana recipes', you will find more ideas and recipes. Now that you know, do not throw away the over-ripe bananas. Be adventurous and try all these recipes.

If you want to try the Malaysian Banana Fritter, then click here. Besides getting the recipe, it also tells you which banana variety to use and how to get a crispy batter.

Medium Sized Banana Compared to Other Medium Sized Fruits

Trivial Moment: Questions People Asked About Bananas

Is Banana Bad For Gout?

Banana contains beneficial nutrients such as potassium and folic acid that may treat gout symptoms. Therefore, it is wrong to say that banana is bad for gout

Source: Livestrong

Is Banana Bad for Diabetics?

Under-ripe bananas are okay as the between-meal snacks if you have Type 2 diabetes. But do not take overripe bananas since a diabetic person will experience a fairly high glycemic reaction.

Source: Livestrong

Is Banana Bad for Cough?

When you are down with a cough and a sore throat, eating might not be easy. Banana is, in fact, good for a cough and can help relieve heartburn and coughing. It is easy to eat. Hence, people with a sore throat can easily swallow them.

Source: eHow

Is Banana Bad for People with Asthma?

The lung airways in asthmatic patients are usually narrow, swollen and filled with mucus. It is easily irritated by certain foods and the environment that can trigger an asthmatic attack. Banana contains Vitamin B6 which can relax this muscle tissue. Hence, banana for asthma patients is good.

Source: Diethealth

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2012 Mazlan

Comments

Mazlan (author) from Malaysia on February 15, 2013:

@teaches12345 Cekodok is easy to make and taste great, a bit oily though! Thanks for dropping by.

Dianna Mendez on January 05, 2013:

I have never heard of this dish before but it looks like one I would enjoy. I too love bananas and they are a really good food choice when it comes to having healthful sweets in a diet. Thanks for the education and recipe.

Mazlan (author) from Malaysia on January 03, 2013:

Om, you should give it a try. It is simple and tasty. I think people from Southern Thailand also have this mashed banana fritter recipe.

Om Paramapoonya on January 03, 2013:

I've never had these but bet they are very yummy. They sound almost like banana donuts! I can imagine myself devour dozens of them in one sitting. LOL