Turon (Banana Lumpia)

If you’re new to Filipino street food, you’ll love this langka and banana Turon. They’re filled with sweet saba banana and ripe jackfruit, then fried in a crispy, caramel-coated lumpia wrapper. Enjoy immediately while hot and crispy!

Lumpia vs. Turon. What is the difference?

Lumpia and turon are essentially interchangeable terms. Lumpia is a type of spring roll filled with either sweet or savory fillings and commonly served in Filipino cuisine. Turon, also known as banana lumpia, is filled with sweet fruits like jackfruit, saba banana, sweet potato, or mango. Like savory versions of lumpia, turon is often served as a snack or dessert. Plus, this turon is naturally vegan!

If you like Turon, you’ll love our savory Dynamite Lumpia (Lumpiang Dinamita) and Lumpiang Shanghai (Filipino Spring Rolls). If you haven’t yet, you have to try our Banana Cue! 

Ingredients You’ll Need 

• Ripe jackfruit: Note that these Turon require ripe jackfruit (langka). Sweet jackfruit tastes like sweet tropical fruit. Young green jackfruit is very different in taste and texture and must be reserved for recipes like Jackfruit Mole Pizza. Ripe jackfruit can be bought in a can with syrup or can be cut from a fresh jackfruit. Learn how to cut a fresh jackfruit in Jasmine’s super extensive post!
• Saba banana: Saba bananas are one of the most popular varieties of banana available in the Philippines and are commonly referred to as a “cooking banana.” They are shorter and thicker than regular bananas and taste like sweet potatoes. We buy saba bananas at our local Asian grocery market, but if necessary, opt for using regular bananas.
• Lumpia or spring roll wrappers: We used lumpia wrappers found in the frozen section of our local Asian market. We like wrappers that say “extra crispy” on the package. Wonton wrappers will also work but are slightly different. 
• Sugar: Turon is made with dark brown sugar in the filling and white sugar for the caramel coating. Use certified-organic sugar to ensure it’s vegan-friendly. We typically stock the brand Wholesome. 
• Oil: Neutral, high-heat oil is necessary for frying Turon until crispy. If you would like to use less oil, try our air frying method.

Equipment Needed

• Baking Sheet to rest the turon on while rolling
• Paper towel-lined plate or wire rack to drain off excess oil
• Large Skillet for frying

How to Make Turon

1. Prepare the banana and jackfruit. Peel the saba banana and cut each banana into 2 even slices lengthwise. If using frozen, allow them to thaw until they can be safely cut. Slice the ripe jackfruit into strips. 
2. Set up your workstation. Pour the brown sugar into a shallow plate or bowl, have the lumpia wrappers handy, and finally place a small water bowl next to the wrappers for sealing. 
3. Fill and roll the turon. Coat the banana in brown sugar, then place it on the wrapper about two inches from the bottom center. Roll until you have about 1 inch left, then brush the top corner with water and seal. Repeat with the rest of the turon.
4. Heat your frying oil. In a pan wide enough to fit the width of your turon, fill with about 1-inch oil and heat to 350 °F.
5. Pan-fry until golden brown. Sprinkle sugar into the hot oil. Place the wrapped banana in the pan, flip immediately to coat in oil, then sprinkle additional sugar overtop. Fry until the wrapper turns golden brown and the extra sugar sticks. 
6. Enjoy. Once golden and crispy, remove the turon from the hot oil using a slotted spoon and place it on a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack to drain excess oil. Enjoy immediately while hot as a dessert or sweet snack. 

Variations

• Air fryer option: If you prefer, you can opt to air fry your turon instead of pan frying. Coat the outside of the turon with a thin layer of cooking oil and a sprinkle of sugar, then place the turon in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 360°F for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cool before serving to allow it to crisp up, and enjoy! 
• Gluten-free option: Opt to use rice paper instead of lumpia or spring roll wrappers, just as you would in Vietnamese Spring Rolls. Refer to this youtube video for tips on how to prevent them from splattering and to ensure that you have the best possible results when frying with rice paper. Disclaimer: Her recipe is NOT a vegan recipe, but I am sharing it for the sake of the technique she used to wrap and fry rice paper rolls. 
• Prep ahead option: Turon is best enjoyed hot and fresh. If you are planning to make turon when hosting family and friends, prep the turon ahead of time, then store it covered in a single layer in the refrigerator with a damp paper towel over the top until you are ready to fry. Once fried, place them on a wire rack in the oven at 200°F until ready to serve.

Storage Instructions

Turon is best enjoyed fresh and eaten the day of, but leftover turon can be frozen. To freeze, place all of the lumpia on a baking sheet and place that into the freezer. Once frozen, transfer the lumpia into an air-tight container or bag and put it back into the freezer until ready to use. Freeze for up to 3 months and fry or air fry frozen until golden and crispy.

More Easy Filipino Snack Recipes You May Enjoy: 

• Pandesal (Filipino Bread Rolls)
• Lumpiang Shanghai
• Ube Sugar Cookies
• Boiled Peanuts (Nilagang Mani)
• Avocado with Condensed Milk

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