Double Fried Green Plantains (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak plantains before frying? ›

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.

Cooked plantains are nutritionally very similar to a potato, calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They're a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium. This hidden superfood warrants a trip your local grocery.

Green plantains are a top source of resistant starch, a type of fiber that's not found in many foods. Resistant starch passes through your system largely undigested, so blood sugar levels rise more slowly after you eat it than when you eat other types of carbs. This may help improve type 2 diabetes and control weight.

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.

Cut in half crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into thin pieces. Working in batches, fry plantains in the hot oil until browned and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

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.

Plantain Benefits

The resistant starch in green plantains has sparked an interest for its health benefits. Resistant starch is fiber that your body doesn't fully digest, meaning it doesn't spike your blood sugar.

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.

Both fruits have similar nutritional and health-promoting properties. Bananas and plantains contain similar nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, vitamin C, minerals, and fiber. Because they contain similar nutrients, they also have similar functions in promoting human health.

There are many alternatives to rice that can help you meet your personal health goals or simply add variety to your diet. Quinoa is a great gluten-free, high-protein option. Vegetables, such as riced cauliflower, riced broccoli, and chopped cabbage, are low-calorie and low-carb alternatives packed with nutrients.

Is plantain good for high blood pressure? ›

The high amount of potassium found in plantains is essential for maintaining the cell and body fluids that control your heart rate and blood pressure. The fiber in plantains also helps lower your cholesterol, which in turn keeps your heart functioning at its best.

Dogs can eat small amounts of cooked plantains, but you should avoid feeding your pooch raw plantains, which are choking hazards. Bake or boil plantains to soften them before slicing them into small manageable pieces.

When plantains are green, they're very starchy and are best for slicing and frying to make chips or tostones – fried slices of plantain that are squashed flat and fried again. Green plantain can also be boiled and mashed to use as a starchy base, or sliced into stews as you would a potato.

Plantains are larger than bananas, have a thicker skin and a higher starch content. Plantains can be eaten when ripe (yellow or brown skin) or unripe (green skin) and are used in sweet and savory applications. Plantains are frequently cooked like vegetables in Caribbean, Latin American and African cuisines.

Cut plantains will quickly oxidize, so I always have a light brine—a teaspoon of salt for each quart of water—ready to drop the prepped pieces into until I'm ready to use them. The brine prevents oxidation, helps season the plantains, and rinses off any residual sap.

So garlic tostones are basically fried plantains that have been pre-soaked in a garlic water to give them extra flavor.

brown/ripe plantains – you need to use ripe plantains to make sweet plantains. Green plantains will be too starchy and not sweet. If you can only find green plantains, let them sit for 3-5 days to ripen.

Olayinka explained that while you could salt them after they cook, she prefers to salt them beforehand because the plantains are stickier when they're raw. Thus, the flavor of the salt is much more likely to be infused into the plantains — allowing them to be as tasty as possible.