Kabalagala (Ugandan Pancakes)
This vegetarian builds very ripe bananas, all-purpose flour and cassava flour into a fuss-free meal you can have ready in about 55 minutes. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 6 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for frying pan / skillet and pan. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
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How to make it
- Peel the ripe bananas and mash them thoroughly in a large bowl until almost smooth with only a few small lumps remaining.
- Add the sugar, then sift in the all-purpose flour, cassava flour, baking powder and salt and stir to combine.
- Pour in just enough milk to bring the mixture together into a thick, scoopable batter that holds its shape; add a little more flour if it is too loose.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a deep pan to about 170 C, or until a small drop of batter sizzles and rises to the surface straight away.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter carefully into the hot oil, frying a few at a time without crowding the pan, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through in the centre.
- Lift the pancakes out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels, then serve warm as a snack with tea.
You'll use: Frying pan / skillet · Pan
Ingredient substitutions
- Milk
- any unsweetened plant milk · ½ cup evaporated milk + ½ cup water
Tips & common questions
How long does Kabalagala (Ugandan Pancakes) take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of milk?
Try any unsweetened plant milk. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Kabalagala (Ugandan Pancakes) vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Kabalagala (Ugandan Pancakes) is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: The Process Of Making Omubisi Gwa'menvu (Banana Juice) 03.jpg by Vanmulondo, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.