Three Simple and Original Tips to Enjoy Plantains

· December 7, 2018
It's time to discover how to enjoy plantains and how to make original preparations with a few simple tips. Learn what you can do with this great fruit and how to prepare it!

The plantain is, without a doubt, one of the most popular fruits in several gastronomic traditions around the world. This is especially true in America, where there’s a variety of delicious and original recipes.

That’s why it allows you to make really delicious dishes easily, and with great results.

Now, what really matters is knowing what the benefits of eating plantains no matter how we do it.

As you may know, plantains are a very important source of potassium and folic acid. Plus, they’re also a great source of vitamins and mineral fibers such as zinc or selenium.

Now let’s take a look at how to prepare them!

Original tips to make plantains

1. Baked plantains

Baked Plantain

If you’re a person who prefers the sweet versus the salty, you’re in the right place with this recipe.

Ingredients

  • 4 ripe plantains (850 g)
  • 5 sheets of aluminum foil
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted margarine (45 g)
  • 2 cups of grated white cheese (300 g)
  • 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil (8 mL)

Preparation

  • Before starting, you must make sure to remove the skin of the plantains and place them in a mold, without cutting.
  • Then, set the oven temperature to 400º C.
  • Before introducing the mold with the plantains, you should expect the oven to heat and conserve heat for about 5 minutes.
  • Spread the margarine over the plantains in combination with the oil. This will make them look golden on the outside and soft and well cooked on the inside.
  • Finally, bake in the oven for 35 minutes and make sure to turn them over so they cook well at 7 minute intervals.
  • Once ready, serve and enjoy plantains!

Read also: What Happens to Your Body If You Start Eating Two Bananas a Day?

2. Green plantain tostones

Green Plantain Tostones

This recipe is prepared very frequently in the coastal areas of a large part of Latin America, especially in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. It consists of unripe green plantains in combination with vegetable oil and salt.

Usually, it comes with main dishes such as fish or meat, in combination with salads and mashed potatoes. However, the highlight of this preparation is the simplicity provided by the plantain.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of vegetable oil (110 mL)
  • 2 large green plantains (400 g)
  • 2 tablespoons of salt (30 g)

Preparation

  • In a pan, pour the contents of the cup with vegetable oil and medium heat.
  • Then, make sure to remove the skin from the green plantain.
  • Keep in mind that while yo’re removing the skin, you must be careful to not to put your hands on your clothes, or you could stain them.
  • Now, slice the plantains.
  • With the oil is hot enough, add the green plantain slices and let them brown. Just brown! When you see that the slices are golden, proceed to remove them from the oil.
  • With the help of a hammer to crush the plantains, flatten the slices. The idea is that you do it with all of them so that they’re as flat as possible.
  • Finally, put them back in the oil over low heat and wait for them to fry for 2 minutes and remove them.
  • Drain excess oil well and serve on a plate with some salt.

See also: What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Ripe Bananas?

3. Sweet ripe plantains

Sweet Ripe Plantain

This preparation is as delicious as the title it holds, so it’s an ideal option to enjoy plantains. It combines an ideal blend between the natural sweetness of ripe plantain and brown sugar. In addition, the contrast with the red wine delights the palate.

Ingredients

  • 4 large ripe plantains (700 g)
  • 1 cup of brown sugar (100 g)
  • 1/2 cup of vegetable oil (60 mL)
  • 1 cup of red wine (110 mL)

Preparation

  • Start by removing the skin of the plantains and cutting them into slices about 2 cm wide.
  • Then, make sure you fry them very well.
  • Once this step is completed, pass them to a refractory bowl.
  • Then, introduce the brown sugar and the cup of wine to the mixture with the plantains.
  • Finally, transfer everything to a pan and let it cook for 20 minutes.
  • Serve and decorate to taste. 
  • Enjoy!
Three Nutritional Differences Between Bananas and Plantains
Three Nutritional Differences Between Bananas and Plantains
Even though many people confuse the two and consider them the same thing, the nutritional values of bananas and plantains confirm their differences when it comes to the benefits that we want to get from them Read more »

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  • Fahrasmane, L., Parfait, B., & Aurore, G. (2014). Bananas, a source of compounds with health properties. In Acta Horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1040.9

  • Vu, H. T., Scarlett, C. J., & Vuong, Q. V. (2018). Phenolic compounds within banana peel and their potential uses: A review. Journal of Functional Foods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2017.11.006

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