Plantains are a staple of Latin American cuisine and can be eaten as sweet or savory dishes. Plantains are often seen in stews, fried to make chips, added to soups, cooked with rice and beans, or mashed into desserts such as the famous Puerto Rican “mofongo.” Let's explore some delicious recipes that highlight this versatile fruit.
You may be asking yourself: “What is a plantain?” Plantains are a staple of Latin American cuisine and can be eaten as sweet or savory dishes.
Plantains are often seen in stews, fried to make chips, added to soups, cooked with rice and beans, or mashed into dishes such as the famous Puerto Rican “mofongo.” Let's explore some delicious recipes that highlight this versatile fruit.
Plantain can be created in many ways by boiling, mashing, frying, grilling, or baking. Once you try it, you will fall in love with the flavor. Plantains are found in most of the USA in the produce section of the grocery store.
What are plantains?
Plantains are members of the banana family. Plantains are very starchy and are considered the main side dish in the Caribbean. Why are they so popular? Because they are ready to eat no matter their stage of growth.
You can enjoy plantain unripe or ripe, but they must be cooked unlike their cousins, bananas.
You are going to love these posts:
- Mofongo with Sausage – A New Holiday Tradition
- Puerto Rican Recipes: Traditional and Modern
- Puerto Rican Tostones
- Leftover Ham & Plantain Soup (Sopas de Platanos)
Where can you find plantains?
You will find plantain in many Latin dishes and can be cooked ripe and green. When you cook plantain green (unripe), they are bland and starchy. The riper they get, the sweeter they taste. The darker the outer skin, the sweeter they are.
There are so many ways to cook plantains, and you will find tons of plantain recipes for all stages of the plantain online.
You will find recipes for green plantains, for ripe plantains, healthy recipes, not so, um, healthy recipe that tastes delicious. The point is that the recipes for plantains are endless!
How do you eat it
If you're not sure how to eat plantain, the easiest way is to peel the skin and then slice it up for eating. After that, you can fry, grill, roast, or bake plantains. To get the most from your plantain, look for soft and ripe ones but not too mushy.
One of the simplest ways to cook with plantains is by boiling. The first thing you want to do is peel the skin off the plantain.
Then, cut it into desired slices or cubes and put them in a pot of water. Once they have boiled for 10-15 minutes, strain them through a colander.
You can grill plantains by cutting off the ends and piercing them with a fork, which will make it easier to cook over an open flame. Then, place them on a grill until they are soft.
Facts about Plantains
There are at least 300 different plantain and banana varieties and countries in the world. Some of the largest exporters of plantains include Mexico, Costa Rica, and Brazil. In every part of the world, plantains are delicious and affordable.
1. Plantain is a broad term for plants belonging to the family Musaceae (bananas). In general, the terms “plantain,” “banana,” and “cooking banana” can all be used interchangeably. Most varieties of bananas are inedible when raw, but plantains have a high starch content.
2. Plantains come in many varieties of sizes and colors, from green to yellow to black.
3. Plantain is known for its versatility in cooking: it can be baked, boiled, or fried. It's also great for sandwiches and desserts; sometimes, plantain cookies are referred to as ‘green bananas.'
4. Plantains are known to have up to 30% more calories than regular bananas, and they also contain a higher concentration of starch. The starch content makes it popular as an ingredient in Latin American cuisine, which is very common throughout the United States. In addition, their delicious taste pairs perfectly with chicken, beef, or pork and can be used in various ways.
5. When served fried, plantains taste similar to potatoes; if sweet plantains are eaten cooked, they taste like candy or mashed potatoes with brown sugar. In other Latin American countries, such as Cuba and Puerto Rico, sweet plantain is used in desserts and sweets like mofongo (mashed plantains with pork and chicken).
10 of the BEST Plantain Recipes
Tostones are a delicious, traditional Puerto Rican dish that is made from fried green plantains.
They're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a unique flavor that you can't get anywhere else. You'll love them!
Have you ever eaten plantain? They are often used in Caribbean dishes, but they can be found all over the world.
Plantains are not eaten raw like bananas and instead need to be cooked before consumption.
One popular way of cooking them is by using them as tortilla shells for tacos or burritos.
Are you looking for a tasty and simple recipe that will impress your guests? Then, this is the perfect dish for you.
Plantains are stuffed with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomato sauce, cumin, and chili powder. The result is a delicious meal that everyone will love to eat!
This soup is a Caribbean delicacy that you will not want to miss. With the perfect balance of flavor, this recipe can be enjoyed any time of the year.
All it takes is 30 minutes, and you'll have yourself a hearty meal to enjoy with family and friends.
Mofongo is a staple dish in Puerto Rico. This dish has many variations, and this post will be about one of them.
The ingredients for this dish include potatoes, plantains, garlic, olive oil (or butter), salt, and pepper.
One variation of mofongo with sausage includes adding smoked sausage to the mix and some herbs like cilantro or parsley.
Mofongo can also be served with chicken broth or other types of soup that are usually liquid enough to pour over the top, such as vegetable soup or tomato-based soup.
Ever tried a bolitas de plátano? They're basically mashed plantains mixed with some other ingredients and then formed into little balls if you haven't.
They can be eaten baked or fried until crispy. I'm going to show you how to make these tasty treats!
You’ve never had anything like this before.
It’s a dish that has been passed down from generation to generation in Puerto Rico.
The perfect combo of savory and sweet, juicy and cheesy, wanting to lick your plate then lick your face!
Layers of beef, fried plantains, and cheese.
This is the best thing you will ever taste in your life!
I love a good soup. I usually make them in the wintertime, but this year's been so mild that my cravings are different than usual.
This recipe is perfect for those who want something filling and flavorful without feeling too heavy or hot. It's also effortless to throw together with ingredients you can find at your local grocery store!
There's no doubt about it - soups are great any time of year! If you're craving something hearty and delicious, give these sopas de pollo y plátano a try.
If you're looking for a way to use up some of those summer plantains, look no further than this recipe.
You'll only need five ingredients and 20 minutes from start to finish, and you can have tasty pancakes on the table in no time!
In the Caribbean, fried plantains are a popular food. They are often served with saltfish and ackee for breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
It is also common to find them in curried goat, escoveitch fish, and jerk chicken. In many ways, they can be considered Jamaica's version of French fries or chips!
However, you eat it (or however it is cooked), if you haven't had the opportunity to try this delicious fruit yet - we recommend that you do so soon!
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