West African Banana Fritters

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 5 bananas (about 1 pound)
• oil, for deep frying
• powdered sugar, for topping

Directions

1. 1

   In a deep mixing bowl, stir the flour and sugar together and, with a whisk, beat in the eggs one at a time. Whisking constantly, add the milk, about 1/3 cup at a time and continue to beat until the batter is smooth and elastic enough to stretch like a ribbon from the beater when it is lifted up out of the bowl.

2. 2

   Peel the bananas, chop or slice them coarsely, and drop them into a shallow bowl. With the tines of a table fork, mash the bananas to a smooth puree. Stir the puree into the batter and let the mixture rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before frying.

3. 3

   Pour oil into a deep fryer or large, heavy saucepan to a depth of 2 to 3 inches and heat the oil until it reaches a temperature of 375 degrees ona deep frying thermometer.

4. 4

   For each fritter, ladle about 1/4 cup of the banana batter into the hot oil. Deep-fry 2 or 3 fritters at a time, leaving enough space between them so that they can spread into 3 or 4-inch rounds or oblongs. Turning them once or twice with a slotted spoon, fry for about 3 minutes or until the fritters are a rich golden color on all sides. as they brown, transfer them to paper towels to drain.

5. 5

   While the fritters are still warm sprinkle them lightly with powdered sugar and serve at once.