Plantains are such a versatile fruit. It looks like a banana but is starchy like a potato. It's as delicious as... a plantain. This one fruit can be cooked in different ways. Here's a recipe for 3 common ways: chips, tostones, and sweet plantains.
You'll cook your plantains differently according to how ripe they are. Green plantains are not ripe. But they can be cooked to still make delicious treats. Slice them thin on a mandolin to make chips. Fry them quickly in hot vegetable oil and sprinkle with salt.
When your plantains are just turning yellow, they are perfect for making tostones. Tostones are twice fried plantains. They are great for snacking. Cut your plantains about a half inch thick and brown on both sides in hot vegetable oil. Remove from the oil when browned and smash flat with a spatula. Then fry again on both sides until crispy. Yum!
When your plantains have turned black, the sugar content has increased and they are sweet and ripe. Slice your plantains about a half inch thick. Sauté in butter and enjoy plain or as a topping on cake or ice cream.
No matter how you use your plantain, this versatile fruit will be sure to satisfy.
Plantain Chips
Makes about 3 cups
Ingredients
1 Green Plantain
Canola Oil for frying
Kosher Salt
Steps
Using a mandolin, slice your plantains very thin. Heat canola oil to 350 degrees in a pan with high sides. Working in batches, fry thin chips in oil until lightly toasted. It should only take a minute. Remove from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate and season with Kosher salt while hot. Continue until all chips have been cooked.
Tostones
Makes about 8 tostones (depending on the size of your plantain)
Ingredients
1 Green Plantain
Canola Oil for Frying
Kosher Salt
Steps
Heat canola oil to 350 degrees in a pan with high sides. Slice your plantain about 1 inch thick. Once oil is heated, place plantains in the oil. They should begin to sizzle and half of the plantain will be sticking out of the oil.
Once one side as browned, turn the plantain over and brown on the other side. This should take about one minute per side.
Remove the plantain from the oil. Place on a cutting board and smash plantains flat with a spatula. Return the flattened plantains back to the oil and fry for another minute on each side until browned.
Remove from oil and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Season with Kosher salt while hot. Enjoy immediately.
Sautéed Sweet Plantains
Serves 2
Ingredients
1 Black Plantain
2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
Steps
Melt butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
Slice plantains about a half inch thick. Once butter has melted, brown plantains over medium-low heat until caramelized, about 2 minute per side. Enjoy warm. It's great by itself or topped over ice cream.