9 Delicious Plantain Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are the five ways to enjoy plantains? ›

Definitely more so than a regular banana. They can be consumed green, yellow, brown, or black; ripe or unripe; cooked or uncooked (but not very often); baked, fried, steamed, boiled, or grilled. In fact, I eat them at least three times a week.

But since the unripe plantains don't taste like much on their own, soaking the slices in salt water will help draw out their subtle flavors. Soaking green plantains can also add moisture to the naturally dry starch and help the tostones to crisp up nicely when they're fried.

You can fry, grill, roast and boil them. Plantains are nutrient-rich, which contributes to the fruit's many health benefits. They contain vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium. They can help boost immune system health, aid weight loss and promote healthy brain function.

The keys to successful fried plantains are choosing ripe fruit and using the right pan, oil, and heat. A ripe plantain's skin should be almost black or, in some cases, have a dull yellow color with patches of black. In addition to being sweeter, the ripe fruit peels easily and cooks in no time.

Healthiest Plantain Preparation

Plantains can be eaten raw or cooked but are usually enjoyed cooked in some way. Plantains can be baked, fried, boiled, or grilled. Ripe plantains can be peeled and eaten like a banana, but even ripe plantains are usually best enjoyed cooked.

Ripe plantains are sweet like a banana, without the banana flavor. They can be eaten raw but are best when fried. The edges caramelize and become crispy like the edges of pancakes cooked in butter.

In a bowl large enough to hold the plantains, combine the salt with ½ cup water and stir until dissolved. Add plantains and set aside to soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Soak green plantains before frying them to keep the fruit from oxidizing quickly. As soon as you slice the green plantains, put them in a little salt water to keep the plantains from turning brown; it also helps season them.

A salted-garlic water mixture is prepared to soak the green plantain slices for a few minutes prior to frying. This will provide a garlicky, salty flavor to the fried plantains.

5 If you're not used to eating a lot of fiber, plantains can cause discomfort like gas, bloating, and constipation. Increase your intake slowly, allow plantains to ripen fully, and cook before eating to reduce digestive distress.

Can diabetics eat plantains? ›

Making sure blood sugar levels don't go too low or too high is an important goal if you're living with type 2 diabetes. Foods like plantains that digest slowly have a low glycemic index (GI). A GI under 55 is considered low. Plantains have a GI in the 40s, making them a good food choice if you have diabetes.

People can eat plantains as part of a healthful diet. They are high in carbs, however, so if a person is trying to manage their weight, they should be aware of portion size. Also, it may be preferable to bake or boil plantains rather than frying them.

The fruit needs only a few minutes on each side until the outside hits an appealing golden-brown color. Anything darker and the result will be too dry; anything less, and the plantains will remain hard. The fruit rewards patience — so it's no surprise there are more time-consuming variations to frying them, too.

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However, unlike some other starchy fruits grown in tropical areas, there's no danger in eating raw plantain. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, it doesn't contain toxic substances like cassava, which can cause cyanide poisoning if consumed raw.

When you want to make plátanos maduros, you need to wait until they are fully brown. Wait even longer than you'd wait for bananas to overripen if you were making banana bread. There's no shortcut to soft, sweet plantains—you have to let nature do most of the work.

Plantains are commonly eaten as a fried side dish, but they're also popular in soups, stews, and baked dishes. Try out these sweet and savory plantain recipes and taste the best of what plantains have to offer.

Most commonly used in the coastal areas, plantains appear on menus throughout the republic, including restaurant meccas Mexico City and Guadalajara, in courses from appetizers to desserts, used in various stages of ripeness. They are fried, steamed, grilled, baked, mashed, and made into dough.

But my favorite way is quickly frying them up as a side dish. Sweet fried plantains with a savory protein make the best combo. My favorite ways to eat them are at breakfast with eggs or at dinner with chicken, pork, or beef. I also love them post-workout as they are a great carb source.

Since fried plantains are usually a salty snack, they usually go best with other salty foods like fried eggs. One of the advantages of fried eggs is that they are cheap and easy to make.