Recipe: Zero Waste Banana Pancakes by Jennah Jensen

Hey busy mama, it’s happened to all of us… buying that delicious looking rack of bananas at the grocer only to have them turn brown before they’ve been eaten. If you’re anything like me it can be confronting to throw away wasted food but let’s face it, they’re just too slimy to get down the hatch! I’ve got good news, as long as they’re not moldy you’re in luck! The riper bananas get, the sweeter they get too! Overripe bananas may not be the best for casual snacking but they are perfect for pancakes! Use this simple recipe to turn what might have been your food waste into a delicious meal!

• 1 overripe banana - save the peel!

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/2 cup plant milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon double acting baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients into a mixing bowl and thoroughly incorporate until batter consistency is formed. Exact flour to liquid ratio may slightly vary. If you find your mixture too runny, add sprinkles of flour. Likewise if too thick, add splashes of plant milk until batter texture is achieved. You’ll want to get all of the flour clumps combined but you may still have some small clumps from the banana left in the mixture and that’s totally okay!

Spoon mixture into a preheated non-stick or lightly buttered pan on medium heat. Flip when the edges have started to form or when the bottom is no longer sticking.

This mixture will make about 5 medium pancakes. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

As promised, this recipe is truly zero waste! Save the banana peel and soak in a few cups of water. After 1-2 days, nutrients from the peel will have leached out into the water creating a “banana tea”. This makes an amazing liquid fertilizer that your plants will love! For maximum freshness, keep the mixture in the fridge while soaking. Discard the peel before giving your plants a drink!

Jennah Jensen is a vegan, blogger and recipe extraordinaire! You can follow along her adventures, find her recipes and be inspired by her musings here and follow along on Instagram @jennahjensen