Zitumbuwa

Zitumbuwa, or fried banana, is a favorite Malawian snack. It is usually made from cornmeal, banana, and sugar, then deep-fried. There are many variations to this dish.

The main ingredient in zitumbuwa is bananas. It is one of the cheapest yet tastiest snacks you can buy at the roadside or in the markets in Malawi. Zitumbuwa is cheap and easy to make. Of course, if you want to improve the taste, you can add other ingredients like whole wheat flour, milk, eggs, and butter. A typical Malawi zitumbuwa is made from cornmeal, bananas, and baking soda.

Ingredients:

• 10 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups maize meal
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• cooking oil for frying

Directions:

• Crush bananas. Add eggs and milk to bananas and mix well. Add salt, baking soda, and cornstarch to the banana mixture and mix well. The consistency of the mixture should not be too hard, not too soft, or watery. If the mixture is too stiff, add milk. If too runny, add cornstarch.
• Heat oil in a deep pan. Use the mixture to form balls, the size of your balls will depend on the size of your fry. Take your ball and place it in the palm of your hand, then use your four fingers to flatten the ball.
• Fry the mixture until light golden brown. Remove the cake and place it on a paper towel to absorb the oil.