Fried Green Plantains
“A couple years ago, I had the chance to visit Nicaragua, where I could try the popular “tostones” (green fried plantains, in the form of a chip). I gotta say they are not so fat-friendly, but they are very very tasty and colorful! I love them! Its super simple to prepare them, you will just need green plantains (or yellow, if you can’t find the green), oil and salt. It’s up to you whatever you use as a topping, they will be delicious anyway! They are perfect as chips, as little tostadas, or just by themselves. Enjoy!”
Preparation Time: 10 min.
Cooking time: 10 min.
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains (or yellow if you can’t find green)
- 2 cups of canola or vegetable oil
- – salt
- * refried beans, avocado, cheese, for topping (optional)
Directions
- Peel the green plantains: Slice the ends off with a knife and make a lengthwise cut from one end to the other, remove the skin and cut 1-1.5 inch wide slices. The wider your slices, the bigger your tostones.
- Precook the plantains: heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat, until it reaches 325ºF. Lower the heat and add the plantains. Cook for aprox. 2-3 minutes, until they are just golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and place over paper towels.
- While the plantains are still warm and using a wooden press or a big plate, put a piece of plastic over one of the slices and press down, until a small disk forms. Repeat with the rest of the plantains.
- To finish, warm the oil until it reaches 350ºF. Add the plantain disks and deep-fry until lightly golden, about 2 minutes more. Remove with a slotted spoon and place over paper towels. Sprinkle them with salt and serve warm.
- You can top them with refried beans, but I love them with a slice of avocado and a piece of cheese! Enjoy!
