If you have an overripe banana do not throw it away.  

It is good to make Malay traditional delicacies: Jemput-jemput pisang, Kek pisang or Lepat pisang. 

Three different methods of Malay cooking to transform an overripe banana into a yummy snack!  

• Jemput-Jemput Pisang (Banana Balls by deep-frying).

• Kek Pisang (Banana Cakes by baking).

• Lepat Pisang (Steam Banana Packets by steaming). 

Two conditions to choose overripe bananas 

There are two ways for me to choose overripe bananas.

Firstly, I buy the overripe banana at a stall in the wet market.

Sellers usually will sell overripe bananas at a 50 per cent discount from the premier bananas.

The seller at the wet market in my neighbourhood hung up the banana as the indicator for premium grade.

While the overripe bananas were displayed on the table to be chosen by buyers. This is because the banana is too ripe and hanging it for display is not possible.

Secondly, when my good fresh bananas become overripe due to neglect, I decided to make delicacies out of them.

This way, the fruit did not go to waste and can be enjoyed as a delicious snack.

You see, bananas have a short period to eat as it is. If we have no time to grab it, a black spot appears on the banana skin.

The ugly banana is only on the skin but perfectly needed for the batter.

I add other perfect ingredients to poorly presented raw bananas. 

Jemput-jemput Pisang

Jemput-jemput pisang, a popular name for banana balls. 

Banana balls are made using overripe bananas, wheat flour, brown sugar, salt and baking soda to produce a batter with the taste of naturally ripe fruits. 

This sweet banana ball is one of the low-cost, scrumptious and healthy Malaysian snacks.

It requires minimal ingredients that are easily available.

It can be served during breakfast or afternoon tea. 

This Jemput-jemput Pisang Recipe can be made even during your free time.

I have included two ways to make the small round shape dough.

Kek Pisang

The cake needs additional ingredients compared to banana balls. 

For a simple banana cake, I need to add vegetable oil and one large egg in addition to the ingredients that I used to make the banana ball.

The natural sweetness and the softness of overripe bananas are needed to make a mouth-watering banana cake.

The banana cakes are kept moist when I served them in a cupcake liner. It is also convenient to serve the banana cake individually to visitors without having trouble cutting them into pieces.

Lepat Pisang

The overripe banana is good to make Lepat Pisang or Steam Banana Packets.

The Steam Banana Packets uses wheat flour, palm sugar, salt and coconut milk. For fillings, I add grated coconut.

We used banana leaves to pack Lepat Pisang.

The fragrance of banana leaf combined with the sweetness of banana gives you the urge to eat it.  

It is one of the Malaysian favourites for breakfast.