Got Bananas? Use Them Up with These Surprising Recipes from Dole

Probably the biggest hit at the Dole Banana Blogger Party on a recent Sunday afternoon, was the Banana Curried Chicken. Here is the recipe for it, the recipes for the other food I made, and a few extra recipes from Dole. I’ll share my thoughts on the recipes that I made before each one.

BANANA CURRIED CHICKEN
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

I am not a big curry fan, but the curry in this was very mild. In fact, all the flavors sort of melted together creating one delicious flavor. I made it the night before and it kept well for the afternoon gathering. The bananas in it began to brown in the fridge two days after that, but I suspect you won’t have any leftovers of this one.

Prep: 20 min.
Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 tablespoons mango chutney
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 large DOLE® Bananas, chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup sliced DOLE Celery
1/2 cup flaked coconut, toasted
Assorted crackers

Directions:

1. Melt butter in small saucepan; stir in curry and cook until lightly fragrant. Remove from heat, stir in chutney and lime juice; set aside.

2. Stir together, chicken, bananas, cherries, celery and coconut in large bowl. Spoon dressing over chicken mixture; toss to evenly coat. Refrigerate until serving.

3. Serve chicken mixture with assorted crackers.

Per Serving: 270 calories, 7 g fat (4.5g sat.), 30mg cholesterol, 750mg sodium, 41 g carbohydrate (5g dietary fiber, 21g sugars), 12g protein

BANANA OAT BARS
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

My version of these did not come out quite as neat and tidy as in the picture above. They crumbled easy, but it didn’t take away any of its yumminess. I really liked these “energy bars” and they kept well in the fridge for days.

Prep: 15 min.
Bake: 20 min.
Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients:

2-2/3 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup finely chopped dried mixed fruit
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons sesame seed, toasted
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup honey

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325°F.

2. Combine oats, dried fruit, pumpkin seeds, sugar, sesame seed, cinnamon and cardamom in large bowl. Stir in bananas until well mixed.

3. Melt butter in small saucepan; stir in honey. Pour hot butter mixture over oat mixture; stir to coat well. Spoon mixture into 13×9-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray; press evenly.

4. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool; refrigerate until firm. Store in refrigerator.

Per Serving: 160 calories, 6 g fat (2g sat.), 5mg cholesterol, 25mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 12g sugars), 3g protein

BANANA PROTEIN CAKES
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

I left the cashews out of this recipe for nut allergy reasons and it was still good. This was my favorite recipe. I cut the cakes into smaller squares (about 30) — they are quite dense and half of the recommended serving is plenty! So yummy with coffee in the morning. Here’s what mine looked like:

Prep: 20 min.
Bake: 30 min.
Makes: 15 servings

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup protein powder
1/4 cup whole ground flaxseed meal
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cashews, toasted and chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries or cherry-flavored cranberries

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix together flour, sugar, protein powder, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Stir together eggs, applesauce, oil, bananas and vanilla in medium bowl. Stir applesauce mixture into dry ingredients, until just blended. Stir in cashews and cherries, until blended. Pour into 13×9-inch pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool. Cut into 15 (4×1-1/2-inch) bars.

Per Serving: 250 calories, 9g fat (1.5g sat.), 35mg cholesterol, 170mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 17g sugars), 8g protein

BANANA TEA SANDWICHES
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

These were another of my favorites. I’ve never used watercress before and had no idea it was spicy! Then you mix it with horseradish sauce. I admit, I was a little worried these would be a little too HOT for me and my guests, but the cucumber and the banana cool the spiciness and just leave a tangy flavor in your mouth. I used whole-grain bread (Dave’s Killer Bread) instead of white.

Prep: 20 min.
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 to 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 cup chopped fresh watercress
1-1/2 cups seedless cucumber, finely diced
8 slices soft white bread
2 DOLE® Bananas, sliced
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds (optional)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Directions:

1. Mix together cream cheese and horseradish, until blended in medium bowl. Stir in watercress and cucumber, until mixed well.

2. Spread cream cheese mixture on 4 bread slices. Top with a layer of banana slices. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and walnuts. Top with remaining bread slices. Cut into triangles or use cookie cutter to make decorative sandwiches.

3. Can be served open face or served as a sandwich. Use cookie cutters to make decorative small sandwiches.

Per Serving: 460 calories, 19g fat (5g sat.), 25mg cholesterol, 490mg sodium, 62g carbohydrate (8g dietary fiber, 20g sugars), 13g protein

CLASSIC BANANA BREAD
Created by Dole

Like it says in the title, this is a classic recipe. Mine came out perfectly — moist and dense!

Prep: 20 min.
Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 medium, ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped almonds

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs. Blend in bananas, sour cream and vanilla until blended. Add in flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in nuts.

3. Pour into 9 x 5-inch baking pan sprayed with vegetable cooking spray.

4. Bake at 350°F, 55 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.

No nutrition information available.

More Recipes:

The following recipes I did not make, but sound delish! Let me know how they turn out if you make them:

BANANA CLUB SANDWICH
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

Prep: 15 min.
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 large, ripe DOLE® Banana
1 ripe avocado
1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
8 slices ciabatta or other crusty bread, toasted
8 slices bacon, cooked
1/2 small DOLE Red Onion, sliced
6 to 8 ounces sliced cooked turkey breast

Directions:

1. Mash together banana and avocado in medium bowl. Stir in lime juice and cilantro.

2. Spread 4 bread slices with avocado mixture. Top each with 2 slices bacon broken in half, onion and turkey. Top with remaining bread slices.

Per Serving: 280 calories, 15 g fat (3.5g sat.), 35 mg cholesterol, 890 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate (5g dietary fiber, 6g sugars), 17g protein

BANANA PUMPKIN SQUARES
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

Prep: 20 min.
Bake: 25 min.
Makes: 16 servings

Ingredients:

2 ripe DOLE® Bananas
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup protein powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried blueberries or blueberry-flavored cranberries
1/2 cup DOLE Shredded Carrot
4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, toasted, divided

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mash bananas in medium bowl. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla until blended. Beat in egg, sugar and butter, stirring well.

3. Stir together flour, protein powder and baking soda in large bowl. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture, until just moistened. Stir in pecans, blueberries, carrot and 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds.

4. Spoon into 13×9-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Smooth top; sprinkle remaining 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds over top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean.

Per Serving: 190 calories, 9 g fat (2.5g sat.), 20mg cholesterol, 105mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 12g sugars), 5g protein

BANANA CHICKEN SALAD WRAP
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

Prep: 20 min.
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon bottled barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
1 large DOLE® Banana, chopped
1/2 cup diced jicama
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts
2 DOLE Green Onions, sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
DOLE Baby Spinach, as needed
4 (10-inch) burrito-size flour tortillas

Directions:

1. Stir together mayonnaise, yogurt, barbecue sauce, vinegar and brown sugar in large bowl. Stir in chicken, banana, jicama, peanuts, green onions and cilantro until well mixed.

2. Place desired amount spinach on tortillas. Spoon chicken mixture over spinach. Tuck in ends of tortillas then roll up tightly to enclose filling. Place seam-side down.

Per Serving: 390 calories, 18g fat (2.5g sat.), 35mg cholesterol, 640mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 12g sugars), 20g protein

BANANA PEANUT BUTTER SCONES
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

Prep: 20 min.
Bake: 15 min.
Makes: 16 to 18 servings

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup DOLE® Seedless Raisins
1/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup chopped dried apple or pear
1 cup milk
2 ripe DOLE Bananas, well mashed
1 egg, beaten
Ginger Cream Cheese (recipe below) optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Line large baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

3. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in food processor bowl. Pulse in butter and peanut butter until well blended. Pour peanut mixture into large bowl. Stir in raisins, walnuts and apples.

4. Whisk together milk, bananas and egg in medium bowl. Pour milk mixture into peanut mixture; stir until just moistened.

5. Spoon batter, about 1/3 cup each, onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 14 to 17 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve with Ginger Cream Cheese, if desired.

Ginger Cream Cheese: Mix together 1 pkg. (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened and 2 tablespoons crystalized ginger, minced until blended, in small bowl.

Per Serving: 250 calories, 12g fat (5g sat.), 25mg cholesterol, 130mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber, 14g sugars), 6g protein

OPEN-FACE BANANA GOAT CHEESE SANDWICH
Created by Dole Fresh Fruit

Prep: 15 min.
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

4 ounces goat cheese, room temperature
2 large, ripe DOLE® Bananas, mashed
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup red currant jelly
4 slices multi-grain wheat bread
Additional banana slices (optional)
1 teaspoon diced fresh jalapeno pepper (optional)
Cilantro (optional)

Directions:

1. Stir together goat cheese, banana and cinnamon, until well blended (mixture may be lumpy).

2. Spread 1 tablespoon jelly over each bread slice. Evenly spread cheese mixture over jelly. Arrange additional banana slices over cheese, if desired. Sprinkle with minced pepper and cilantro, if desired.

Per Serving: 290 calories, 10g fat (6g sat.), 20mg cholesterol, 280mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (6g dietary fiber, 23g sugars), 11g protein

Go to Dole Bananas Recipes to find these recipes and more!

Banana Nutrition

Here are a few healthy facts about bananas:

• Bananas have 3g of fiber!
• Bananas are full of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure
• Vitamin B6, found in bananas, can help lower your risk of cardiovascular disease
• Bananas have manganese, which regulates metabolic function
• Bananas are packed with Vitamin C!

Want to win a banana party pack?

Enter my Dole Bananas giveaway before July 20.

Do you have a favorite banana recipe? Share it in the comments below!