Gluten-Free Fried Banana Bread

MAKES 1 9 INCH LOAF

This bread f*@&ing rocks. It’s gluten-free but you can substitute with normal flour if you’re into that. Also the fried bananas on the top are optional but they make it SOOOO delicious and moist. You don’t need butter for this bad boy! I ended up making this for my dad Thanksgiving morning because he was cranky. After he ate it, he wasn’t cranky anymore.

TOOLS

Large bowl

Medium bowl

Small bowl

Medium sauce pan

Wooden spoon

Whisk

Potato masher

9” loaf pan

Non-stick baking spray [I use canola oil]

Small frying pan [optional] + fork

Paper towel 

INGREDIENTS

½ cup walnuts pieces

¾ cup brown rice flour

¾ cup potato starch [or corn starch]

¼ cup tapioca flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

5 very ripe bananas, peeled and cut into ½ inch slices plus 1 banana, cut into ½ inch slices [optional -- for frying later]

8 tbsp unsalted butter plus 2 tbsp unsalted butter [optional -- for frying later, you can also use coconut oil]

2 large eggs

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tsp granulated sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, move rack to the middle position. In 9” loaf pan, roast the walnuts in the preheating oven about 5-8 minutes until aromatic. Let cool.
2. In large bowl, whisk flours, baking soda and salt. Melt the 8 tbsp of butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. When completely melted, turn up heat [but make sure not to brown/burn the butter] and add the sliced pieces from 5 bananas. Gently fold pieces until all pieces are coated. Allow to cook for about 8 minutes, gently stirring every minute or so. The mixture should resemble chunky pudding -- allow the liquid to cook off, but careful not to let the mixture burn. Take off heat and transfer to medium bowl, mash with potato masher. In small bowl, whisk eggs. Into the banana mixture, whisk in brown sugar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs, making sure not to cook them. 
3. Pour the banana mixture into the large bowl of flour. Mix until just incorporated. Fold in walnut pieces. 
4. [OPTIONAL} In small frying pan, melt remaining 2 tbsp of butter [or coconut oil] on medium heat. When melted, turn up heat until bubbling and gently place each slice of remaining banana into the pan. Fry until just caramelized on one size. Flip and caramelize the other side. Take off each slice with a fork onto paper towel and let cook. 
5. Using baking spray, grease down loaf pan. Pour batter into pan. Line slices of fried banana on either side of the loaf [leave the middle free for loaf expansion]. Sprinkle the top with granulated sugar.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes. Remove the loaf from the pan and cool on wire rack until room temp. Serve. For warm bread, slice loaf, place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes. You can serve with butter or coconut oil [but it’s pretty damn delicious on it’s own].

you can download/print the PDF here