Sweet Banana Chips are one of South India’s most loved traditional snacks. Made using the famous Nendiram banana, these chips turn out naturally sweet, crisp, and golden without adding any sugar.
This simple homemade recipe captures the authentic taste of Kerala and Tamil Nadu’s traditional kitchens — perfect with evening tea or festive celebrations.
🧺 Ingredients
Nendiram bananas – 3 (semi-ripe)
Salt – a pinch (optional)
Oil for deep frying – (Sunflower oil or Coconut oil)
🍌 Step 1: Choose the Right Banana
Select semi-ripe Nendiram bananas — not too raw, not too soft. Semi-ripe ones give the chips a natural sweetness and a beautiful golden color after frying.
🔪 Step 2: Peel and Slice
Peel the bananas and slice them into thin, even rounds or lengthwise strips using a slicer. Thinner slices fry crispier.
🛢️ Step 3: Heat the Oil
Pour enough oil (sunflower or coconut oil) into a deep frying pan. Heat it on a medium flame until moderately hot.
🍳 Step 4: Fry the Slices
Add the banana slices in small batches. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Fry until the slices turn golden yellow and crisp. Avoid over-browning.
🧂 Step 5: Add Salt (Optional)
If you like a hint of salt to balance the sweetness, mix a small pinch of salt in a teaspoon of water and sprinkle into the oil just before removing the chips. Be careful — the oil may splutter!
🧊 Step 6: Cool and Store
Remove the chips using a strainer and place them on a banana leaf or tissue paper to drain extra oil.
Once cooled completely, store in an air-tight container. The chips will stay crispy for days!
💡 Pro Tip:
For extra aroma, use pure coconut oil — it gives a traditional Kerala-style flavor to the chips.
