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Holding Ube Turon cut in half cross section.
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Ube Turon (Banana Lumpia with Ube Halaya)

Ube halaya and saba bananas wrapped in thin lumpia wrappers, deep-fried, and delicately coated with a thin caramel layer.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Filipino
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 20
Calories 209kcal
Author Nora Rey
Cost $6-$8

Equipment

  • Wide pan or pot

Ingredients

  • 5 ripe saba bananas sliced lengthwise
  • 1 cup ube halaya
  • 20 lumpia (or spring roll wrappers)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • Egg (for sealing) optional
  • Neutral oil (for frying)

Instructions

  • Slice the bananas lengthwise into 3–4 pieces each.
  • Place a banana slice on a wrapper and add about 1 tablespoon ube halaya.
  • Roll tightly and seal the edge with water or egg wash.
  • Heat about 1 inch of oil over medium heat. Once hot, add the turon.
  • Fry for 2–3 minutes, turning, until lightly golden.
  • Lower the heat slightly, add the sugar, and keep turning until coated and crisp.
  • Transfer to a rack or paper towels to drain.
  • Serve warm while still crisp.

Notes

  • Saba bananas: Use ripe bananas so they’re sweeter. Frozen saba, plantains, or other firm bananas also work.
  • Ube halaya (purple yam jam): You can use homemade or store-bought.
  • Lumpia wrappers: Best for a thin, crisp texture. Spring roll wrappers work too. Avoid egg roll wrappers — they’re thicker and won’t get as crisp.
 
Tips
  • Use ripe bananas so they’re sweeter.
  • Don’t add too much ube — about 1 tablespoon is enough so it doesn’t leak out.
  • Roll tightly so they stay sealed while frying.
  • Fry in batches so they turn crisp, not greasy.
  • Add the sugar once they start to brown so it melts evenly and doesn’t burn.
  • Don’t rush the frying — medium heat helps it stay crisp longer.
 
Storage & Reheat
  • Storage: Best eaten fresh. Refrigerate leftovers up to 2–3 days.
  • Freeze: Wrap and freeze before frying. Fry straight from frozen when ready.
  • Reheat: Reheat at 350°F until crisp. Avoid the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 182mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg