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Fried plantains are thick slices of ripe plantains that have been lightly salted and deep-fried in oil until golden brown. The outcome is a caramel-like brown crust with a soft and highly sweet inside that is savory-sweet.
This recipe is so easy to create that you could do it blindfolded. It does not necessitate the use of any additional ingredients or the use of sophisticated cooking procedures. Even though they’re simple to make, these fried sweet plantains never fail to satisfy! Learn how to fried plantain like a pro.
Fried Plantain
Plantains are a popular snack in many parts of the world, including West Africa, East Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia.
Let’s just say plantain is very popular wherever Plantains grow. You’ll never get bored eating them because they can be prepared in so many different ways. They can be baked into chips, used as a pizza crust, or fried with eggs (or even by themselves). They’re delicious on both sweet and savory levels.
In Nigeria Fried Plantain is called “Dodo“, in Cote d’ivoire it is called “Alloco” and “Kelewele” (Spicy plantain) in Ghana.
What Are Plantains?
Plantains are similar to bananas, except they are starchier and can be eaten ripe or unripe. Plantains are frequently served as a main course or as a side dish in West Africa and other parts of Africa.
Ripe plantains, on the other hand, can be eaten raw because their starches have been converted to sugars. They differ from bananas in that they are larger and longer, have thicker skins, and are brilliant green (becoming black as they ripen).
Bananas vs. Plantains
Bananas and plantains are both members of the same family. That is without a doubt the case!
There are, nevertheless, some distinctions. Plantains have more starch and less sugar than bananas. They have a high starch content and a fairly mild flavor when immature. As a result, they’re utilized in many savory recipes in the same way that most people use potatoes. They should not be eaten uncooked when they are still green.
Bananas, on the other hand, are traditionally not eaten before they are fully ripe. When they’re ripe and sweet, they’re eaten raw. They have thinner skins, and when they’re ripe, their skin becomes a lovely yellow color.
Another advantage to fresh plantains is that they have more vitamin C, A, and potassium than bananas. Are plantains a healthy food? Of course, they are. Here is a good comparison chart for plantain vs. banana that describes in detail how they differ.
Types Of Plantain
Plantains are only one type, however they come in three hues depending on their age. Green comes first, followed by yellow, and then black.
Plantains that are ripe/yellow
Yellow plantains, commonly known as Platanos Maduros have lower carbohydrate content. Because they are ripe, the starch in them has been transformed to sugar, they become delicious.
They’re great on their own at this point, with or without salt. They can be cut and fried to make sweet fried plantains, which are a fun side dish or snack to serve at celebrations. You can even cook them on the grill!
Plantains in their natural state
Green plantains can be used in the same way that potatoes are. They can be boiled, mashed, or fried. They are high in starch and not sweet, but the starch is converted to sugar as they age.
Green plantains are commonly steamed like potatoes and turned into chips (fried or baked plantain chips).
Plantains that are overripe or black
We also have black plantains that have been matured. They are the sweetest of the three phases and have a mushy texture when touched.
This is one of my favorite baking and pancake ingredients; you can see how I used it to make plantain cake here and my favorite breakfast pancakes here.
Some people enjoy frying black-aged plantains because they are quite sweet. If that’s the case, I’d advise you to avoid deep frying because it absorbs a lot of oil. Shallow fried them in a small bit of oil or butter until they are slightly browned and caramelized on both sides.
Ways To Cook Plantains
Cooked plantain can be eaten ripe or unripe and it can be fried using both stages in plantain life. If you don’t want to fry it, here are some other methods to prepare it. Plantains can be fried, baked, boiled, roasted, or grilled once they have been cooked.
It’s vital to choose plantain wisely based on the recipe you’ll be making with it. The skin of mature plantains is yellow and spotty, but the skin of unripe plantains is green, thicker, and more difficult to peel.
How To Fry Plantain
- Place a pan or frying pan/skillet on medium heat, add vegetable oil and move on to preparing the plantain while the oil gets hot. It usually takes about a minute or two to heat up.
- Using a sharp knife, cut both ends of the plantain, make an incision on the skin from top to bottom and peel the plantain.
- Slice the plantain diagonally to about half an inch.
- Carefully add the sliced plantain to the hot oil and fry on both sides until golden brown. Do not overcrowd the oil in the pan so that the plantain can cook evenly
- Remove plantain from the hot oil and drain on a kitchen towel. Sprinkle salt on hot plantain and toss to combine. Plantain can be served hot, warm or cold.
Tips:
- Be mindful of the quantity of salt you add, a little goes a long way.
- Plantains can also be fried in a deep fryer
- For healthier fried plantain, use 1 tablespoon vegetable oil to fry 1 plantain but keep an eye so it doesn’t burn.
Should I Peel Plantains Before Frying?
You need to peel plantains before frying the only time you can cook plantains without peeling is if you are making boiled plantains.
Is It Possible To Bake Plantain Instead Of Frying It?
How Ripe Should Plantains Be Before Frying?
I would say it depends on how sweet you like your plantains. The level of sweetness of the plantain depends on its color. The color ranges from Green (unripe and not sugary ) to yellow ( ripe and sugary ) and finally black ( over ripe and very sugary ).
Are Fried Plantains Healthy?
Because of the combination of oil (from frying ) and the starch content of plantains some people see fried plantains as unhealthy.
A combination of oil and carbs isn’t good for your waist line. Plantains are rich in Vitamins and Potassium so there are ways to indulge without missing out. Indulging on a plate of fried sweet plantains once in a while isn’t bad.
How To Serve Fried Plantains
Plantains make a great meal either as a side dish or as a main meal. Below are some of the dishes you can serve with fried plantains and my favorite is beans
- Fried sweet plantains are frequently served with African cuisines such as Jollof rice, Beans, Fried rice, Fried or Scrambled Eggs, white rice, and many others.
- It can be served as a snack.
- It can also be served as a full meal when combined with an omelet.
- Red Red Stew
- Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean, they’re frequently served with sour cream, ketchup, mayo-ketchup, or plain.
Storage And Reheating
You can store leftover fried plantain in the fridge or freezer.
Fried plantains that have been stored in the refrigerator can easily be reheated by popping them into the microwave on a single layer in a paper towel lined plate.
Other Plantain Recipe To Try
I hope I have been able to help out in a way or two. If you’d like to know more about plantains you can read my thorough write-up on fun fact about plantain here. Enjoy!
Fried Plantain
Ingredients
- ripe plantain
- vegetable oil
- salt
Instructions
- Wash, peel and slice the plantain, add little salt, toss the plantain to ensure that the salt is evenly distributed.
- Set your vegetable oil on cooker to heat up.
- When heated, add a considerable quantity of the plantain slices to the oil, leaving enough room for the slice to fry evenly.
- When the underside of the slices starts to turn golden, flip the slices on their other side.
- Fry till a desirable browning is achieved.
- Remove it and put in a sieve to drain out the oil.
- Serve with Fried eggs or chilled juice.
Nutrition
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