Chilean Banana Milk — Homemade Leche con Plátano Recipe

Chilean banana milk, leche con plátano, served cold in tall glasses — Homemade banana milk

Chilean banana milk, or leche con plátano, is cold milk mixed with ripe bananas mashed with a little sugar and a few drops of lemon, optionally sweetened with honey, made without a blender. It takes 10 minutes to prepare and serves 4.

This easy, inexpensive drink brings back childhood memories for many Chileans and is a family favorite for breakfast or afternoon tea.

How to Make Chilean Banana Milk?

It is as simple as it is delicious. The bananas are mashed into a smooth purée with sugar and lemon, stirred into half the milk, then topped up with the rest of the milk and honey to taste, and served cold.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of banana milk contains approximately 180 kcal, 5 g of protein, 3 g of fat, 15 mg of cholesterol, 36 g of carbohydrates, 25 g of sugars, 2 g of fiber, and 100 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

Homemade Chilean Banana Milk Recipe

Preparation: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

1 liter (4 cups) of cold milk
2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons of sugar
1 teaspoon of honey (optional)
A few drops of lemon juice

Chilean Food Recipes: Traditional and Heritage Cuisine of Chile

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Instructions

Peel the bananas, place them in a bowl, and mash them with a fork into a creamy purée. Add a few drops of lemon juice and the sugar. Pour half the milk into a pitcher, add the mashed banana, and stir until smooth.

Mixing mashed banana with milk for Chilean leche con plátano — Mixing Milk and Banana

Add the rest of the milk and the honey if using, stir, taste, and adjust the sweetness. Refrigerate and serve cold in tall glasses, stirring gently just before serving.

Additional Tips

Use a blender for a smoother drink

For an even smoother banana milk, blend everything at medium speed until creamy.

Add more flavor

A pinch of cinnamon or cocoa powder, or a teaspoon of chia seeds, adds a different twist.

Drink it fresh

Banana darkens and thickens over time, so drink it within 2 hours of making it.

Original ingredient	Substitute	Ratio	Flavor note
Sugar and honey	Liquid stevia	To taste	Fewer calories
Cow’s milk	Oat or almond drink	1:1	Dairy free
Lemon juice	Orange juice	1 tablespoon	Sweeter, fruitier
Plain	Add cinnamon	A pinch	Warm and spiced

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I make banana milk ahead of time?

It is best within 2 hours of making it. Even with the lemon, the mashed banana tends to darken and thicken over time.

2. Can I use sweeteners instead of sugar and honey?

Yes, liquid stevia, erythritol, or xylitol all work, especially if your bananas are very ripe and already sweet.

3. How do I make it smoother without a blender?

After mashing with a fork, press the purée through a fine sieve with a spoon to keep only the smoothest pulp.

4. Can I make it in a Thermomix?

Yes. Add the banana pieces, cold milk, sugar, honey, and a squeeze of lemon and mix at speed 6 to 7 until smooth.

Banana Milk in a Thermomix

Put the banana pieces, cold milk, sugar, optional honey, and a squeeze of lemon juice into the Thermomix bowl. Blend briefly to combine, then mix at speed 6 or 7 until smooth, taste, and adjust the sweetness.

Benefits of Bananas

Bananas are a good source of carbohydrates and potassium, and slightly green bananas contain resistant starch. Combined with milk, they make a gentle, easy to digest drink.