How to Cook Fried Plantains

Fried Plantains

Plátanos fritos, or fried plantains, are a Costa Rican staple. A Central American staple.

If you’ve never had them you are missing out- the crisp, fried layer followed by the sweet taste of the overly ripe plantain inside- nothing compares. I eat them up when I’m in Central America and crave them when I’m home (or cook them for friends and family!)

The ingredients are easy- olive oil and overly ripe plantains.

Overly Ripe PlantainWhen I say overly ripe plantains, I mean it. The blacker and softer the better (to a certain point, of course).

The above plantain was perfect, but could have gone a few days more and still been at perfect ripeness. You want your plantains to be this ripe for sweetness- the sugars in the plantain caramelize as you fry it in the olive oil, creating a deliciously crisp crust. Plus a ripe plantain is soft, an unripened plantain is hard and honestly not so tasty.

Plantain Prep is straight forward: Cut the plantains into 1.5 inch pieces as you heat the olive oil. Once it’s ready you can add in the plantains- remember to gently add them as hot oil burns if it splatters on you!

Soaking up olive oil greaseIt’s a good idea to have a napkin out for placing the plantains once they’re cooked through. This way some of that excess grease will be soaked up.

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Fried Plantain
Fried Plantains are a common side for any Costa Rican dish, adding a little natural sweetness to your meal.
Servings
Ingredients
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat the olive oil over high heat. Once hot lower temperature to medium low. Add plantain pieces.
  2. Move plantain pieces continually so that all sides are completely browned. This will take about 7-10 minutes. Remove plantain and set to dry on paper towels. Enjoy as a side with black beans and rice.
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I like to eat plantains with rice and black beans but feel free to enjoy them as a snack or however you like! I’d love to hear what you come up with!

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  1. Pingback: Photography and Food | Gretchen Alms Photography | Multigenerational Family and Farm Photographer

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