Delicious sweet Fried Plantain! Learn how to fry plantain like a pro. Plantain is very similar to a banana but unlike bananas that can be eaten raw, plantain is cooked before you can eat it. Plantain is also referred to as "cooking banana".
A perfect side to your African, Mexican and Caribbean dishes.
What is plantain?
According to Cambridge dictionary, Plantain is a tropical fruit similar to a banana with green skin, or the plant that produces this fruit or a banana containing high levels of starch and little sugar, which is harvested green and widely used as a cooked vegetable in the tropics as defined by oxford dictionary.
Plantain is a common food staple in West Africa, the Caribbean and some part of America and Africa.
In Nigeria, fried plantain is a popular accompaniment to many Nigerian foods. In fact, some Nigerians would not eat rice or beans without a side of fried plantain. Aside, it can also be added to other meals.
Difference between plantain and banana
Plantain is a lot starchier than a banana and it can’t be eaten raw like a banana. Also, it is larger than a banana and with a thicker skin. Because of the high starch content in plantain, it is best eaten cooked.
Plantain is used as a vegetable in cooking as you would with potatoes, and they are not considered a fruit like a banana. Both banana and plantain are healthy when eaten in moderation. Green plantain is a good source of diet for diabetic patients
Jump to RecipeWays to cook plantains
Cooked plantain can be eaten ripe or unripe and it can be fried using both stages in plantain life. Below are ways you can cook and use it if you don’t want to fry. Plantain must be cooked before it can be eaten, it can be fried, baked, boiled, roasted or grilled.
When buying plantain, it is important to choose carefully depending on the recipe you would be using it for. Ripe plantain skin is usually yellow and spotty while that of unripe plantain is green, with the skin thicker and harder to peel.
How to eat plantains
Use the following recipes as a guide to cooking and eating plantain...
Baked plantain and fish stir fry (Ripe but firm plantain)
Unripe Plantain Porridge (Unripe plantain)
Deluxe Beans Porridge (Ripe but firm plantain)
Plantain and peanut muffins (Overripe plantain)
Check the plantain recipes category for more on how to cook plantain
Ingredients
Ripe but firm plantain
Vegetable oil or any other flavourless oil
Salt to taste
How to Fry Plantain
Now let’s get down to how to fry plantain. It is very easy to make, it is sweet and if you use a very ripe plantain, it can taste like a candied treat. I prefer to use semi-ripe plantain (ripe but firm) for frying. Green plantain is best for plantain chips or porridge. Overripe ones are best used in baking recipes
- 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
- 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.
Can I bake plantain instead of frying?
Yes, baked plantain is a healthier alternative to frying and it can be grilled too. To bake plantain, slice it into desired shapes or sizes. Prepare a baking tray by lining it with a baking sheet, spread the plantain slices in the baking tray in one layer, spray with oil and bake in the oven at 200C/392F for 10 minutes, flip the plantain and continue to bake for another 10 minutes or until golden brown.
How to Fry Plantain (Fried Plantain)
Equipment
- frying pan
Ingredients
- Ripe but firm plantain
- Vegetable oil about ½ cup
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- 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 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.
Notes
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