Cooking Done Light

Caramelizing fruit is an easy way to make any dessert taste really decadent. Generally, hearty fruits (pineapple rings, apples, pears, thick slices of kiwi, large pieces of mango) work best – and bananas caramelize particularly well. This dessert is so quick and easy that you can have it on the table in the same amount of time that it takes you to brew a pot of coffee. And it is low in calories and fat – so you can feel free to indulge without feeling guilty!

I like to serve these bananas with nothing more than low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt in the summer; but they are equally delicious served over warm low-fat pound cake, angel food cake, (or for the ultimate decadence) a warm fudge brownie!!!

For a more simple version – ditch all of the accompaniments, and serve the bananas on their own with a simple sprinkle of cinnamon, unsweetened shredded coconut, or chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds and macadamias all compliment bananas particularly well).

4 good sized bananas, peeled and cut in half lengthwise

1 cup (8 ounces) apple juice

1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

*2 tablespoons unsalted butter*

2 tablespoons lime juice

Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat and cook it until it is nice and bubbly and begins to brown slightly. Add the apple and lime juice, and stir in the brown sugar. Increase heat to medium-high and cook 8-10 minutes (until mixture starts to look “syrupy”). Reduce heat back down to medium, add the bananas and cook until softened slightly (about 3 – 4 minutes) – turning them over several times as they cook. Serve warm along with the sauce from the skillet.

*If you want an even lower fat version of this dish, you can use a generous coating of cooking spray (such as the mild flavored canola oil) instead of butter. The taste won’t be quite as rich, but it’s still delicious, and the browning and toasting part will turn out fine.*

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 193 calories, 4 g total fat, less than 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 28 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 9 g sugar, 4 g protein, 14 mg sodium, 0 mg cholesterol