Caramelised Bananas

A recent survey has found that bananas are the most wasted items British shoppers buy. Nearly three per cent (around 310,000) per year go off before they are eaten.
 
Kerrygold has a delicious solution to your banana woes and have come up with a yummy dessert using those forgotten bananas.

It’s simple and quick, the perfect dessert if you’ve spent hours slaving over your main dish.

Serves 4   

4 Bananas (skinned and sliced)   
100g Caster sugar   
1 Vanilla pod (optional) split lengthways and scrape out the seeds   
50g Butter   
4 Vanilla sponge slices   
4tbs Greek yoghurt 
Method
 
In a large frying pan, heat the sugar over a moderate heat, after about 1-2 minutes the sugar will start to caramelise around the edges of the pan.

At this point you can start to stir the sugar with a wooden spoon, be very careful as the sugar is now very hot.

Keep stirring until the sugar has changed to a golden amber colour, continue cooking but keep a watchful eye as it can burn very quickly.   

The caramel should now be a darker golden colour, remove from the heat and stir in the butter, the scraped out vanilla seeds & pod (if using) and 2 tbsp of cold water, this will take the intense heat out of the caramel and stop it cooking any further.

Once again be careful because when you add the butter and water it will make the caramel steam and maybe spit so stand back!!  

Now add the bananas cut side down and return to the heat, cook for 1-2 minutes and then turn over, the bananas should have taken on the caramel colour.   

Place the slices of vanilla sponge in the middle of the plates, pile 2 halves of bananas on top of the sponge and pour over the caramel sauce so it soaks into the sponge.   

Scoop the Greek yoghurt with a warm spoon, trying to make it roll in on itself to make a rugby ball shape, this is purely for presentation purposes - you can dollop it on if you prefer.   

Serve to your guest who will be suitably impressed. Apples, pears or even pineapple can be cooked in the same way but require a little more cooking, they too give a fantastic end result.