As I mentioned yesterday, I am on the hunt for healthy snack ideas. I used to absolutely love plantain chips. I went through a major plantain chips phase while I was living in Los Angeles about four years ago. I haven’t found any at my local grocery store here in southern Missouri (if you local folks know of some, leave me a comment please!), so I thought I’d try making my own. I couldn’t find any fresh plantains either. Sigh. So I tried banana chips instead.I don’t know all the differences between plantains and bananas. But I do know that plantains are a lot firmer and therefore a little easier to cook with. To try and compensate I decided to buy bananas that were still a little under ripe, a little green around the edges. I also thought that since bananas are naturally a little sweeter I might try adding a contrasting flavor, such as black pepper. I am happy to report that these are absolutely delicious and nearly sweet enough to call them dessert but still super healthy.Sweet & Salty Banana Chips
2 under ripe bananas
1/4 cup brown sugar
coarse grain sea salt + black pepperFirst slice your bananas thin. Next coat them in a little brown sugar on both sides. You really don’t need a lot of sugar here. And be sure to watch out for clumps. Lay the dipped banana slices on a baking sheet lined with a silpat mat and a little olive oil. Now sprinkle on the coarse grain sea salt and cracked black pepper.Bake at 400°F for 16-20 minutes. Every oven is a little different so be sure to keep an eye on these! You want the edges to begin to get crispy but the centers will still be a little soft and chewy. It would be very easy to burn or undercook them (mushy, no good!), so be sure to keep an eye on them.These are best (and the most crisp) the day they are made, but you can store any leftovers in an airtight container for a day or two. No need to refrigerate. Enjoy and happy snacking! xo. Emma
Sweet & Salty Banana Chips
Ingredients
- 2 under ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- coarse grain sea salt + black pepper
Instructions
-
First slice your bananas thin. Next coat them in a little brown sugar on both sides. You really don't need a lot of sugar here. And be sure to watch out for clumps. Lay the dipped banana slices on a baking sheet lined with a silpat matand a little olive oil. Now sprinkle on the coarse grain sea salt and cracked black pepper.
-
Bake at 400°F for 16-20 minutes. Every oven is a little different so be sure to keep an eye on these! You want the edges to begin to get crispy but the centers will still be a little soft and chewy. It would be very easy to burn or undercook them (mushy, no good!), so be sure to keep an eye on them.
P.S. Want other delicious fruit-based recipes? Check out: fruit cobbler (three ways!), baked fruit, bourbon apple pie, ice cream made from bananas, citrus bars (three ways!) and citrus salad.
120 Comments
Oh gosh, these sound and look wonderful!
Keri-Anne
http://gingerlillytea.blogspot.com
I am a huge sucker for store-bought banana chips, and my husband and I tried to make some in a dehydrator, and we had quite a rude awakening when they were chewy and not crunchy. We then read that store-bought banana chips are actually fried!!! So much for trying to be healthy right?! But these look a bit better – health wise, and I love the combo of salty and sweet:)
Love,
Stephanie May*
http://www.maydae.com
Looks delicious:)
Oh these looks super yummy! I may have to whip some up for work munchies!
http://whiskeybreakfast.blogspot.com
YUM!!! These look amazing. Will be making them as soon as possible.
http://sarahthearchitect.com/
To be honest I’m not that big of a fan of bananas, but this looks pretty tasty! I would love to give it a try sometime soon.
http://sincerelylara.com
goooooosh definitelly LOOKS yummy !!!!
xo
http://franchemeetsfashion.blogspot.cz/
Ooooh, these look good! And dairy-free! Hmmmm….I may have to get cooking soon.
Oh sounds and looks delicious!
Gosh these look delicious
http://somebodyfromsomewhere.blogspot.com/
They look so delish.
Anyone know what a good brown sugar substitute (paleo) would be?
<3
I love bananas! A great new way to enjoy one of my favourite fruits.
LUXESSED
Salty banana chips! Of COURSE! Why haven’t I tried this before?!
♥ Talia Christine
http://taliachristine.blogspot.com
These look so yummy. I’m in the Springfield area and my room mate just bought plantain chips at Wal Mart the other day, they were near the fruits and vegetables. Also, I have found plantains locally as well, which I am a huge fan of.
-Courtney
Looks delicious!!!!! I love bananas and will definitely be trying this out!!
xo Dinah @ sunshine super glam
Wow!! These looks AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!!! (and I’m not a fan of bananas)
Courtney Kennedy – Walmart you say. This is excellent news for me. 🙂 Thank you!
Yum! I love this! So easy to make too. I wonder if they would be good in ice cream.
Those sound interesting!
xo Jennifer
http://seekingstyleblog.wordpress.com
Yummy!! Definitely going to try this out! xx
http://www.creativityandchocolate.com
Yum delicious! can’t wait to try these, I’m thinking of substituting them for my normal chips for school!
http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4164275
http://beblacknblue.blogspot.co.uk
They look incredible!!! xxx
http://hunterapted.blogspot.co.uk/
Yum! These would be delicious served hot with ice cream 🙂
Haha, this looks just crazy enough to work. And I agree with another comment, this would be really good on ice cream!!
Yum.
XO Samantha
Yum!!! I love Plaintains so I’m sure this would be amazing!!!
They look amazing. I really gonna try these for my girls party
http://monikasrdl.blogspot.com
this looks delicious!
Valentina
http://valentinaduracinsky.blogspot.com/
I love banana chips and am so excited to try making my own! Thanks for the great idea!
X Kenzie
http://www.CaveGirlintheCity.com
Uhh I go crazy for them!
A friend of mine is Brazilian and always cooks this for me.. delicious!!
Xxx
http://carolinabin.com
Wow! These look and sound amazing!!! I’ve always though cooked banana is super caramel-like anyway and so basically feels like a dessert so I bet these would be delicious to snack on!
http://siddalee-lifestyle.blogspot.com
Yummy…
http://hidinginheaven.blogspot.fr/
Oh gosh these look absolutely delicious and I love bananas!
http://erstwhilefelicity.blogspot.co.uk/
Plantain chips are delicious but super unhealthy for you due to a lot of frying– just as store bought banana chips are. Just as fresh tostones are… sigh.
A healthier option would be maduros made from ripe plantains. You want those plantains to be brown! Peel them and slice them up into 1-2 inch chunks on a diagonal and pan fry until almost dark brown– you need very little oil if you have a nonstick pan. Sprinkle with sea salt and lime juice to taste. But not too much or a Cuban grandmother will sense it and yell at you. (At least that happens in my family.)
FYI, plantains have less sugar and more starch than bananas. I don’t know what the latin community is like in your town, but you should be able to find fresh plantains at any latin grocery store.
I would love to have your original recipe for plantain chips as well.
Mmmm these look so yummy!!
I just got excited. I love banana chips, but sometimes they are just so plain. Adding a little salt and pepper might be just right to make them a little more interesting!
THanks for sharing!
One of my favorite snacks is a ripe banana with natural peanut butter and sea salt! The natural sweetness from the banana paired with the sea salt is a winning combination. Anyways.. this recipe reminded me of my favorite snack. I can’t wait to try it!
oh my gosh these look HEAVENLY
<3becky
http://www.loosefromthezoo.com
Hi Emma,
Well this post def resonates with me as Jamaican who snacks on banana and plantain chips all the time.
It’s the equivalent of potato chips here in Jamaica lol.
Love it!
Jeanine
yummo! this looks delicious and… healthy? 🙂
kw, http://www.ladiesinnavy.com
Oh yum! Sounds so interesting!
xoxo
Juliette Laura
http://juliettelaura.blogspot.com
These are kind of genius! I love sweet + salty snacks. Can’t wait to try!
Allyson
http://www.allysonwonderlandphotography.com/
Oh my goodness, you read my mind. I was craving banana chips all weekend and resolved today to find an awesome recipe so that I can make my own… looks like it will be this one!
This reminds me of Porto’s banana chips! But they’re sliced long ways. I should give this ago, it looks tasty! A perfect afternoon snack!
xx,-t
listenandbreathe.com
My mom is from Panama so plantains are an everyday thing at her house. We live in Springfield, MO and I asked her where she bought her plantains and she said Wal-mart has them pretty much all the time. She goes to the one on the south side.
Seriously…. YUM!!!
http://www.shannonheartsblog.com
These look absolutely delicious! Such a creative way to make bananas!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.blogspot.com
I’ve had the same problem with finding fresh plantains to make chips, but this is such a great idea that I’ve never thought of! Definitely going to try this out.
Those look SO good 🙂
Ahhh-mazing! I am adding this to my list of whole foods to snack on!
Must try this! :)Irene Wibowo
These look absolutely yummy!
Thanks for the recipe! Will try making some of these~ :3
I love banana chips! but they’re not so great for you (*tear) … making them at home means they’re not fried and they’re naturally way better for me (and more delicious) – Can’t wait to make these!
You are making me so hungry. xxx
reallyliteral.blogspot.com
Great snack idea!
grace
http://herumbrella.com
Do you have a Trader Joes? They have different flavors of plantain chips.
Those photos made me so hungry! I absolutely love banana chips, definitely a weird addiction to them. I don’t know, they’re just so good. Will try this recipe out for sure.
♡♡♡
ofdistantdreams.blogspot.com
This reminds me of fried banana spring rolls! Not healthy but so so good.
I cut it length wise, coat it with brown sugar and wrap it with the spring roll wrap before frying it till the roll turns golden brown. If I don’t want to use sugar, i roll it with slices of jack fruit to make it sweeter.
I wonder if baking works for spring rolls wraps? I should try making some soon and bake it instead of frying.
yum! i never thought to make them salty cause i love the sweet stuff! im going to try these and im sure my hubby will love them too!
-s.
i see them at the WalMart on Campbell. They’re by the produce with the other packaged dried fruit. (:
I am seriously making these RIGHT NOW. I saw them and I couldn’t wait! Thank you for sharing!
You know, I completely feel you. I adore plantain chips. While I am lucky that I have access to them, banana chips are a suitable substitute!
My inlaws are from Guyana; I never had plantain until I started eating at their house. Now I’m hooked on my father in law’s fried plantain. Eaten as a side at dinner, or as a part of breakfast…deeeeeevine. I will definitely have to try these, even though I despise green bananas.
For the person looking for a Paleo sub: granulated (dehydrated) honey, or palm sugar would be as close as you could get to being both “natural” and sugar.
I love banana chips. They’re available in every grocery store here in India and some enterprising souls even make it fresh. There is this one variant that I’m really fond of – ripe banana chips which are fried in coconut oil. They’re more famous in South India.
If you do try out a healthy variation for that, do write a post and share it with us!
Healthy plantain chips? I would suggest green bananas if you can’t find actual plantains. I grew up in the tropics and these were daily staples 😉 Yes, the really crunchy ones are green plantains fried. If you actually find plantains in your area, allow one of them to ripen. Then try your recipe with a yellow (ripened) plantain…Delicioso!! If you want to try something a little different sprinkle some sharp cheddar on some of your chips and allow the cheese to melt in the oven. The sweetness of the plantain and the sharp cheese are a delish combo. Enjoy! 😉
Pepper, eh? I wouldn’t have gone there – seems a big dangerous – but if you say so then I’ll give it a try! 😉
Reb
http://www.thelifenostalgic.com
These look so yummy! I imagine you could even make these raw! instead of brown sugar use honey and instead of bake dehydrate! i shall try <3
eatlovelivelove.blogspot.com
Oh wow! So creative!
🙂 Liz @ rusticpeach.com
yummyyy!!
xx
http://www.ireneccloset.com
These sound great!
These look really tasty! I’ll definitely be giving it a go myself x
This is like a banana lumpia (Filipino snack) but without the lumpia wrap. Mahalo for sharing!
http://www.stylexvenus.com/
I really want to try this!
http://fashionbrunette.blogspot.com
I like banana so that recipe looks good. Have a nice day.
http://www.fashiondenis.com/
Looks great! I found plantains in a Dillons in Kansas a year or so ago… but they only pop up for a super limited time!
Emma – first edamame, now banana chips. You’re officially my heroine now (and provided me with equally addictive food). 🙂 Also, since I haven’t commented on here in ages, congratulations to you and Trey 🙂 SO happy for you guys!
xo
Andrea
I’ve never thought of doing my own banana chips! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I’m going to try these today as I have all the ingredients yayyy!
Lulu xx
http://luluslittlewonderland.blogspot.com
Looks super yummy. I have to try that <3
xx
Mira
yummy…
Yummy, can’t wait to try this out!
Oh so Good. Thank you, I’ll have to try this recipe.
Here in Germany it’s hard to get fresh plantains, too! I fell in love with plantain chips when we went to Cuba Last year … so delicious!
Looks so yummy. Once I have tried this out. It’s really delicious. I’m glad I’ve found this recipe.
OMG these look so yummy! Bananas are my favourite :).
Rachael xx.
http://theteacozykitchen.blogspot.co.uk/
looks yummy !
New post: http://www.thestilettoholic.com/
Love from Paris
I will try this!
It is about lunch time, i am hungry!
We snack a lot in our office. Almost everyday someone will bring in a huge bag of something snacky for us to munch through – it’s becoming a problem! This recipe seems like a great alternative to some of the more unhealthy foods we currently eat – may have to give it a go at the weekend for Monday morning office munchies
Charlotte
That looks so good…what made you decide to try this technique?
My husband is obsessed with the Trader Joes banana chips, but I’m excited I can make them at home!
Thanks for the recipe!
Samantha from Blissfully Bossy
I love anything salty sweet so these look right up my alley!
Sounds delicious; I am going to make them today!!
http://www.pintrest.com/eamcknight1
Mmm these look amazing!
Im looking for healthy snacks for my kids and these look great. Thanks.
Vintagehoneybee.blogspot.com
I’ve never tried banana chips before, but these look so delicious!
These look really good. I bet my little toddler would LOVE them!
These look delicious! I’m going to try them this eve. Should replace my crisp habit *coughs* Thanks for the recipe.
Also loving Sarah’s icecream idea!
I am also a lover of banana chips, will have to give these a try. The black pepper sounds fabulous!
I am a huge plantain fan ever since a teenage trip to Antigua. They almost seem a cross between a banana and a potato, as they are quite firm and starchy. They are also almost unusable until they look like rotten bananas, very dark speckled, almost black. I like to slice and fry them up and serve it with a super spiced balsamic caramel sauce. Holy cow, I should share that recipe on my blog, it is killer.
In the meantime, I think I’m going to make some of these pronto!
Yummy, may have to try some if these 🙂
Ooohh they look tasty, may try these soon! xxx
Amy | http://amysbeautyjournal.blogspot.co.uk/
YUM. Nuff said.
Monica
http://www.pear-shaped-gal.com
these look so good! x
I want these in my belly right nooooooow!!!! I am the laziest person on the planet when it comes to preparing food but this recipe looks so easy and so delicious that I just might have to make it! Thanks for sharing!
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Ohhh,I love those ones,they sell them in stores here,so I never tried making them.Now I think I`m going to!:)
I think plantains are more starchy than bananas,don`t you?In Santo Domingo they call the bananas maduros,which means more matured and the plantains banana!Haha,maybe it just means the banana is a more matured plantain?!Well I don`t know either:)
xoxo
These look so good!
I really want to try them, but the only bananas I currently have are frozen. Would I be able to use those?
Oh em gee. They look and sound so tasty!
They look like a wonderful healthy snack – and I’m always on the look-out for them! We had a similar snack in Thailand a couple of weeks back – basically banana crisps. I couldn’t quite decide if they were healthier than potato chips or not! Either way they were delish!
C x
http://www.cocktailsandcaroline.com
Pinning this as we speak – they look deeeelish!
x
totally pinning this for later, i like the idea of sweet and salty.
love, moon
http://xfallenmoon.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/xfallenmoon
this looks yummy. i will definitely try this!
This looks delicious!!
I´m not sure I´ll help but, I´m brazilian and here we have at least some 10 types of bananas. 🙂
What you call plantain is probably what we call “banana Terra” (Ground Banana) and is the biggest and the most dry one, kind impossible to eat raw.
The sweetest is the “banana d’água” (watery banana) which is good for cooking with the skin on the microwave and after cooling a bit, peel and add cinnamon.
The best one to cook and eat with the meals is the banana Prata (Silver banana), which has more flavor and it´s a little bit acid.
There´s also Ouro (gold), maçã (aplle) and Figo (ficus), to mention the most popular.
Hope I helped you to find the best banana for you chips and explained the diferences! 🙂
AMAZING!
Tried ’em! They were awesome; my husband and I devoured them all in one sitting! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Bananas are super healthy and yummy as dessert. Most of the time, when we make banana chips, we fry instead of bake 😉
Mmmmmm. My hispanic heritage has instilled a love for plantains in me– I should totally get my mom to make these with me:)
xo Melanie
http://thehalfginger.blogspot.com
Just made these and they are delicious! My new favorite– not to mention cheap and easy– snack. Thanks for sharing!
I don’t know if you have a Trader Joe’s in your area but they sell delicious plantain chips!
I tried making these today but I think I sliced the bananas too thin because I couldn’t get them off the foil after they came out of the oven! and yes, I had to use foil b/c I didn’t have a silpat mat. doh! the flavors were delicious though, of the parts that I could scrape off of the foil! LOL! Next time I will have to slice them thicker but I am deffffinitely going to try again! 🙂
xox
Bailey
http://akabailey.blogspot.com
Aww, I just loved the recipe and for sure am going to try to make this. I like sweet banana chips alot specially kerala chips. This time I ordered it online from https://southindianstore.com/product/sweet-banana-chips/ and it also so good, really loved it.
This looks awesome! What an amazingly tasty looking healthy snack!