Try this easy fried plantains recipe. In the store, plantains are sold green and unripe, yellowing, or even totally black. A totally black banana is yucky, but a totally black plantain is okay. It’s fine to buy plantains at any stage of ripeness and use them for various recipes. For frying plantains, I like to buy the medium-ripe plantains and slice them into planks and fry in oil in a skillet. They have a nice sweetness and make a tasty side dish for breakfast, especially with rice and eggs.
What you need for this Fried Plantains Recipe
PLANTAIN …medium-ripe to ripe
OIL for sauteing
and seasoning is optional
…I like a bit of
CHILI POWDER
CINNAMON
SALT
and for an even sweeter
dessert-style side dish add
BROWN SUGAR
…but that’s crazy
How to Fry Plantains
Choose ripe plantains for frying, and buy plantains that are yellow to black in color. Feel the plantains and select ones that are semi-firm to soft, you can buy the super soft blacker plantains, but I prefer more texture.
- Heat a skillet on medium heat and add oil.
- Slice the tips off of the plantain and peel away the skin.
- Cut the plantain in half through the center, and then cut each half lengthwise into 3-4 planks.
- Slide plantains into the hot skillet.
- Season top half if desired.
- Fry until the bottom begins to brown, then turn and brown other side.
- Add more seasoning if desired, or even some sugar, if you’re crazy.
- Once the plantains are cooked to desired color, remove and drain on a paper towel,
Serve warm.
They are great alone as a snack, or a tasty side dish, especially with rice or a seasoned meat dish. Have you ever heard of the expression “a little sweet and some meat”? Plantains make a perfect combo for this dining idea. I really enjoy fried plantains for breakfast with fried eggs.
Give fried plantains a try and let me know what you think, and try green plantains, as well. Depending on the ripeness of the plantain, you can use them for a wide variety of dishes.
How to Cook Green Plantains
Green plantains are a great ingredient, but unripe plantains definitely need cooking. They are not sweet, harder to peel raw, very starchy, and much like a potato. I like to boil green plantains, because it’s easy.
- Slice off the very tips of the plantain, but leave on the peeling.
- Cut the unpeeled plantain into three sections.
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil and add the plantain sections.
- Reduce the heat and let the plantains simmer for about 20-30 minutes, or until a knife passes easily into the plantain.
- Remove the plantains from the water.
- Make a slice along the length of the cooked plantain and remove the peeling.
- The banana will be very starchy, savory, and neutral in flavor, and you can use it just like you might a potato.
One of my favorite ways to use boiled plantains is to mash them with onions and seasoning, kind of like a plantain version of mashed potato.
Experiment with green plantains a try them in some of your favorite potato recipes, and let me know what you think.
For more tasty vegetarian dishes, check out my Vegetarian Recipe Playlist, and if you liked the idea of green plantains, you might like trying this Easy Yuca Recipe, too.
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–Chef Buck