Recipe from Shelly Kistnan
Adapted by Julia Moskin
- Total Time
- 40 minutes
- Rating
- 4(168)
- Notes
- Read community notes
These tender banana doughnuts are traditionally prepared for Phagwah (called Holi in India), a Hindu holiday celebrated in Trinidad and Guyana that commemorates the escape of the prince Prahlada from the burning lap of the demoness Holika. A kadhai, an all-purpose domed pot like a Chinese wok, is used to deep-fry a batter of ripe bananas, flour and sugar into plump bites called gogola. The batter is scented with mixed essence, a popular Caribbean flavoring with notes of vanilla, almond and cinnamon. Mixed essence is meant to replicate the scent of the South American tonka bean, which is rare and expensive (and illegal to use as a flavoring in the United States because it contains a chemical the Food and Drug Administration considers dangerous). —Julia Moskin
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Ingredients
Yield:About 5 dozen gogolas
- 5very ripe bananas (brown, not black)
- ½teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛teaspoon almond extract
- ¾cup sugar
- 3cups flour
- 1½teaspoons baking powder
- 1large pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1large pinch ground cinnamon
- ¼cup (or more) evaporated milk
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Powdered sugar (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (60 servings)
70 calories; 3 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 2 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 10 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 10 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Using a potato masher or large fork, mash the bananas in a large bowl. Add extracts and sugar, and mix well.
Step
2
In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon. Combine the flour and banana mixtures and pour in the evaporated milk. Mix until smooth and thick, like waffle batter, adding a little more milk if needed. Set aside to rest for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour.
Step
3
Heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a heavy pot over medium heat to 350 degrees. Drop the batter by heaping teaspoonfuls into the oil until golden brown on both sides, turning once when the edges are firm. Drain on paper towels. Cook just a few at first and taste to make sure that there is enough sugar and that the insides are cooked. If the inside is runny, reduce the heat so the gogolas cook more slowly. Cook remaining batter in batches.
Step
4
Serve immediately, or keep warm in a 200-degree oven for up to 2 hours. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.
Ratings
4
out of 5
168
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Cooking Notes
Tina
Coconut might "work" better... but if you read the history of the recipe, that would defeat the purpose of the almond being used to recreate the flavor of the South American tonka bean.
Amy
I haven't made these, but just looking at the recipe, I would suggest using coconut extract instead of almond. It will make the banana flavor more banana-y. Almond works better when you cook with peaches or strawberries. Coconut works better with bananas.
Angelia S.
Just made these. Delish! And very forgiving. Only had three very overripe bananas, so cut the flour to 2.5 c. Only had almond and lemon extract, so that's what I used. And eyeballed the evaporated milk. Nice and fluffy! Thx for the easy, yummy recipe!
pat
I also made just half a recipe. No evaporated milk on hand so I used almond milk. Needed more than 1/4 cup. They were perfect. Used freshly ground nutmeg. Need to create a party around this recipe!
LauraC
Be careful not to over mix the batter or it will not be tender; I made that mistake
Laura
First off, this is only my second attempt at deep-frying and my slow cooker, which claims to deep-fry at temps higher than 350F, wouldn't heat the oil above 300F. But 1/8 tsp almond extract? A pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg? Am I the only one with tastebuds so old and jaded that these amounts in 3 cups of flour go undetected? I used my common sense and was not sorry. If I ever made these again I would add cardamom. I had an Indonesian friend who used to make banana fritters, these tasted similar.
Margaret
Pretty quick and tasty. I halved the recipe, thinking that might be reasonable for 2 people, and I could have halved it again.Definitely make them on the small side—my larger ones weren't cooked through even after being more-darkish-than-golden brown.Next time I will add more cinnamon and a bit more sugar. Maybe try Chinese 5-spice another time. Will consider add-ins, like unsweetened coconut.This is a recipe to keep in the back pocket for your ripe bananas.
Bethany
Do not use coconut extract. You will get the wrong flavor. If you want to bring out the banana, use evaporated coconut milk. That's the way I've always made these (and family before me). I also suggest using allspice instead of the combo of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Diane
I used egg nog in place of evaporated milk. A little chewy but very tasty. Thank you!
Jess
Has anyone tried making these with plantains?
Nancy Mac
Does anyone have suggestions to find a good (not non-stick) kadhai? I've been looking for one for ages, and I see a lot that are made from aluminum--which I can't use due to allergies.
Luci
My husband and I both love this recipe! I make it with more or fewer bananas, and we're both too unsophisticated to notice if I overmix the batter. Sadly, I don't make beignets - deep frying is way too messy for me - but cook them in butter just like pancakes. This time I used 1/3 whole wheat flour, almost 1 cup of whey (leftover from making Greek yogurt) instead of milk. The w.w. made them a little less puffy, which means they cooked through a little better as pancakes... again, love this!
Anu
Traditionally referred to as nei appam or paniyaram. Origin is south Indian & made with raw rice, soaked and ground to which jaggery & bananas are added. Usually flavored with cardamom. There is also a wheat flour version, the batter of which can be prepared in a blender. Traditionally cooked in an appam pan (ebelskiver pan) or can be friedI prepare the wheat flour version - 1.25 to 1.5 cup wheat flour, 1/2 cup jaggery, 1/2 banana and cardamom to flavor. Blend with water to a thick consistency
LauraC
Be careful not to over mix the batter or it will not be tender; I made that mistake
Susan
I know this recipe is historical with the bananas, but I'm not a huge fan of banana flavoring. Would it work using any other fruit? Please let me know if you've tried it with another fruit. Something tells me that the texture of the bananas is important.
Anu
Leave out the bananas, try small coconut bits and cardamom.
KH
Am contemplating semi-savory versions, such as rhubarb. Your question about texture is important, so will take into account. Go ahead and experiment!
Lee Norris
what would happen if you baked these?
Anu
Try an ebelskiver pan. Less oil if you have a well-seasoned pan. That's how they are traditionally prepared in India.
pat
I also made just half a recipe. No evaporated milk on hand so I used almond milk. Needed more than 1/4 cup. They were perfect. Used freshly ground nutmeg. Need to create a party around this recipe!
Logan
A question: how many cups are five bananas?
Angelia S.
Just made these. Delish! And very forgiving. Only had three very overripe bananas, so cut the flour to 2.5 c. Only had almond and lemon extract, so that's what I used. And eyeballed the evaporated milk. Nice and fluffy! Thx for the easy, yummy recipe!
Amy
I haven't made these, but just looking at the recipe, I would suggest using coconut extract instead of almond. It will make the banana flavor more banana-y. Almond works better when you cook with peaches or strawberries. Coconut works better with bananas.
Tina
Coconut might "work" better... but if you read the history of the recipe, that would defeat the purpose of the almond being used to recreate the flavor of the South American tonka bean.
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