Turon is a famous Filipino dessert made with saba (banana kepok) and rare (jackfruit) wrapped in a soft spring roll skin and deep-fried to a crisp. The resulting small rolls can be served with a sprinkling of liquid brown sugar or something more special, such as a sweet coconut milk sauce. Read Step 1 to learn how to make this delicious dish
Ingredients
- 20 spring roll skins (spring roll skins can also be used)
- 10 saba (or 6 small bananas)
- 150 grams of rare (jackfruit) that has been sliced
- 2 egg whites, beaten
- 475 ml cooking oil for frying
- 180 grams brown sugar
- 180 ml water or coconut milk
Step
Part 1 of 3: Making Turon
Step 1. Prepare the stuffing
The turon filling consists of pieces of jackfruit and banana kepok. Just cut up the fresh jackfruit to prepare it. Make jackfruit edible raw when it is fully ripe. To prepare the banana kepok, cut each fruit into 3 long strips and lightly roll each piece in brown sugar. Arrange a bowl of jackfruit and a plate of sugar-coated banana kepok on the table so you can start filling your spring roll skins.
- If you can't find jackfruit, you may not use it in this recipe. Many turon recipes don't require jackfruit, even though the fruit is a common traditional ingredient.
- If you can't get saba or what in Indonesia is known as banana kepok, use the smallest banana you can get. Bananas are larger than saba so you don't need as many regular bananas as saba bananas or kepok bananas. Saba bananas taste like a cross between a banana and a regular banana.
Step 2. Separate the spring roll skin
The paper-thin sheet of spring roll skin is difficult to pull off; do it very gently so that the spring roll skin does not tear. Pull the shells off and level to prepare them for filling.
- Wetting your fingers with warm water can help keep your hands from sticking to the spring roll skins. You can also steam the skins ahead of time to help them come off more easily.
- If you can't get your hands on spring rolls, spring roll wrappers will work too. The spring roll skin is slightly thinner than the spring roll skin, but the taste is very similar.
Part 2 of 3: Filling and Frying Turon
Step 1. Fill the turon
Place 2 to 3 slices of banana kepok on top of the spring roll skin. Pour a few tablespoons of jackfruit over the banana slices.
Step 2. Wrap the turon
Start by folding the top and bottom of the spring roll skin towards the center. Gently rotate the spring roll skin 180 degrees so that the unfolded side is facing you. Roll the lumps away from you, as when you roll an egg roll or jelly roll. Spread the egg white over the edges of the spring roll skins to keep the shells in place. Complete the filling and roll up the remaining spring roll skins.
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After the turon is wrapped, one of the traditional ways of preparing this snack is to roll the turon in brown sugar. The sugar will caramelize when the turon is fried. Or, you can make liquid brown sugar to serve with the fried turon.
Step 3. Heat the oil
Pour the oil into a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven suitable for frying. Let the oil heat until when you give it a splash of water, the oil will hiss.
Step 4. Put the turon into the hot oil
Add the turons one by one into the oil carefully. The turons will usually sizzle immediately and begin to fry - if they don't, the oil isn't hot enough. Fry the turons gradually if you have too many turons that they won't fit in one fry.
Step 5. Turn the turon rolls over once
Flip the turon rolls with a pair of tongs, when they are halfway through the frying process.
Step 6. Remove the turons when they are golden brown
The turons should be crispy, golden on the outside and soft on the inside. Place the fried turon on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the oil.
If you prefer not to caramelize the turon rolls, sprinkle the dish with melted brown sugar, which can be made using the following instructions
Part 3 of 3: Making Liquid Sugar
Step 1. Mix the ingredients in a saucepan
To make liquid sugar, all you need is brown sugar and water. Put 180 grams of sugar and 180 ml of water in a saucepan and stir the mixture.
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For a richer and creamier topping, replace half or all of the water with coconut milk.
Step 2. Cook the liquid sugar
Place the pot on the stove over medium-low heat and let it simmer slowly. Allow the sugar and water mixture to cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. When ready, the liquid sugar will have a thick, bubble-like texture and a caramel-like color.
Step 3. Pour the liquid sugar over the turon
You can also serve it with turon as a dip.