Dad it’s getting black! Yup that’s what I heard the last 2 times I purchased plantains with the intention of sharing the simple recipe for fry plantains. I grew up eating fry plantains as a side to many dishes, but my absolute favourite was making sandwiches with these as the filler. I still recall my mom waiting just until the plantains would be so ripe they’d be very close to going black before she cook them. We were told that the more ripe (or quale) they went, the more sweet they would be. So this is exactly what I was trying to achieve, except with my rather busy schedule I tend to forget about them. Not until one of our girls point them out or when those pesky fruit flies appears, do I remember what I was trying to achieve.
For best results allow your ripe plantains to go a bit dark (it will look discoloured) before frying. In the pic below you’ll notice that the plantains I used were ripe, but were only just starting to go “quale” or discoloured.
You’ll Need..
1-2 ripe plantains
1-2 cups of vegetable oil for frying.
salt – optional
brown sugar – optional
Start by peeling the plantains. Do so by cutting off the ends and then cutting the plantain itself in the middle (as in the picture below).Discard the ends and get ready to peel off the skin and slice for frying.
Then using a small knife, cut through the skin along the length of the 2 pieces. Don’t go too deep as you only want to cut through the skin. Then peel back the skin and discard. Now cut thin strips (about 1/2 cm or little less than 1/4 inch) along the length of the piece of plantain.
The final step is to fry the pieces of sliced plantain. Heat the oil in a frying pan and gently place the pieces away from you to avoid hot oil splashing onto you. Allow to cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side (medium heat) or until it gets to the colour you like (use a fork to flip them over). The darker you allow it to go, it seems to also enhance the natural sugars in it. You’ll also notice that it floats when cooked through.
This is not a dish for the health conscious, since even though you pat dry on paper towels, the plantain tends to soak up a lot of the oil.
I usually sprinkle a little salt over mine and I know people who does the same with brown sugar… but you can enjoy these just the way they are when they cool a bit.
If you’ve ever purchased a rice dish at a Caribbean restaurant in North America you should have come across fried plantains served on the side. The Jamaican spot where I go for my jerk chicken with rice and peas, knows to give me a good potion of fry plantains with my takeout order.
Remember to leave me your comments below.
Happy Cooking.
Chris boi, show us how to do Tom Tom. That goes great with callaloo and steam fish.
I love fried plantain as well. For those health conscious (frying) you can also bake them in the oven.
Heat oven to 325. Slice ripe plantains (lengthways or in circles).
Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil, spray with some cooking spray. Place plantains in single layer on oiled sheet. Bake for 4 minutes. Flip, bake for another 3 minutes. Leave longer if you like it darker. Remove and gently sprinkle some salt over the cooked plantains (optional). Enjoy with food or as a snack.
Hi Chris , This is one of my favorites. I fry it green or ripe and eat it anytime. Simply awesome.
Hello
I wanted to fry plantain, however i am confused which plantain is the right to pick. Ripe and green plantain makes me confused. How can I tell which plantain? Any advise or suggestion?
Hi ,They can be fried ripe or green. The green ones I cut a bit thinner and fry crisp so it’s like chips. You can try frying them at different stages of ripeness until you decide which you like best. They are all tasty.
I just love fried plantain.
Fry plantain, buljol and coconut bake on Sunday morning is a feast to behold
Keep it coming
Pat
Hey Chris:
Thank you for sharing yet another fabulous recipe of yours. I love me some Plantains but I do not like Bananas. Weird, isn’t it!
I tried & tried to figure out how to make these & “NOW” I can say that I finally got it! The problem that I was having was that I was not letting the Plantain get really ripe 🙂
I finally made them but I cut them in circles rather than long ways. They were so delicious that I could not stop eating them!!
As for as how they serve them in the Unite States (Cincinnati, Ohio) with the Jerk Chicken, Rice & Peas, you are right, they do serve Plantains on the side and like you, I have to ask for an extra serving 🙂
I love me some Caribbean Food & I truly appreciate you sharing your wonderful recipes.
One Luv :)…Rikki S.
Rikki, you say you don’t like bananas, I hate ripe ones too, but have you tried boiling green bananas & crushing them in butter ? Just like mashed potatoe’s. Yummy Man !!
Chris
Yes in Jamaica this is how we do plantains, except when we boil or some persons fry and press the green plantain. I am seeing new ways of preparing and frying plantains here which I will try out. With the sweetness of the plantain I don’t think I could add sugar though!
Thanks for your great recipes.
Hi Chris We have this in Ghana where we add minced ginger, minced onion a little bit of cayenne and salt, cube the plantain, toss it and pan fry, deep frying is the best.
Dear Chris
Plantains can also be rolled in cinnamon and flour before frying.This adds incredible flavour as well. Some people even dip them in orange juice, then the flour and cinnamon.
Keep the recipes coming.
Thanks
Evelyn
I love fried plantains too. Try soaking the plantains in salt water for about 20 minutes before frying. You won’t believe the taste
just love fried plantain, also pound plantain so good
Nothing is better than fried plaintain in sada roti with some kuchela. Gosh I could nyam dat now!
Hi, I also love the ‘black’ plantains – i slice them diagonally and sprinkle a little ginger and white sugar on them and they are delicious.
love your site
Tried this for the very first time…..it was delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Chris, have you tried shaved salty cheese with a tiny squeeze of lime juice on it? It’s good plain but it’s awesome with cheese and lime.
Hi Chris,
Just love your site & your recipes!! The fried plantain brought to mind a dessert a cousin of mine used to make in Trinidad, when I was little, with ripe plantains & I wonder if you might have a recipient for that, or for something similar. I have tried making it & it is pretty good, but just make it off the top of my head without a recipie & feel like you would be able to perfect it better than I could. It involves slices of plantain layered in a baking dish with grated cheddar cheese, brown sugar & cinnamon (optional) & then baked after ending up with a layer of brown sugar on top for a nice “crust”. Any ideas? So here’s another challenge for you!!
Plaintains can also be fried in breadcrumbs that tastes even better
Nice recipe. In Guyana we eat this in de morning, fry plantain with scrambled eggs. Now living abroad my husband also loved it. It goes well with Guyanese hot pepper.
Oh My Goodness man! Got me drooling over here. Love me some fried plantain between a couple pieces of Hardo/Peg bread. Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!
love fried plantain……nummmmmmmm
all your recipes are true and delicious i do enjoy making then with the kids good job
Hot bake or sada roti, FRY PLANTAIN with a dash of shadon beni and pepper sauce ……delicious!!!!
love fried platano(plantain), and patacones. have you ever had picadillo de platano? It's very good and very popular here in Costa Rica, but I haven't come across a recipe nor had someone explain slowly & clearly for me to understand!
yes I had some last night for dinner. Sweet ones with some salt…..in puerto rico we eat them with eggs in morning or for dinner with rice and beans …
Thick slice, fry for a min. Pull out and let sit. Put between wax paper. Pound flat. Refry. Excellent!
Ditto then I sprinkle fine sea salt n pepper n garlic powder omg going to the store now mouth watering lmao
Plantains are delicious, great with every meal
i love platanos with breakfast and dinner
Here in Suriname, ripe plantains are fried as well in a batter (mixture of flour, soda, salt) and then fried indivually. it's served hot with a spicey peanut sauce (sambal). We got it from the indonesian influence.
I never thought of having it with a sandwich though:)
My mother use to fry plantain alot we use to make sandwiches with it to.
I toss the ripe plantains in a flour dredge combined with cinnamon and then fry them, gives them a really nice flavour.
This is a recipe for ripe plantains. Have you tried the fried green plantains? If you want the recipe, please let me know.
Pilar
Is that all? Does it have to be done with vegetable oil? Would olive oil work?
Yes fried plantains are brilliant. I lived in Conakry (Guinea) for a while and a variation on this is fried plantains cut in slices (across) and fried with hot peppers. Sold in the street and bought and wrapped in square pieces of brown paper. Oooo that is so good — and hot!!
Here in Haiti the plantains are boiled whole and eaten without much in the way of condiments. No where near as good in my opinion.
Hi Chris, This is a side dish i have to have with just about everything. I also love the sandwich this is not new to me…i love them fried, baked, boiled and lately a friend gave me a recepie for get this…plantain lasagna yum!! i will share it with u later.
i´d like to try your lasagna with banana, sound richi, please send us your recipie. don;t forget.
Peanuts, thanks for commenting. When the plantain is fried (providing it’s fully ripe) it’s very sweet and savory, so the sandwich is almost like having a jam sandwich. I make the sandwiches with fry bake, sada roti, buns and/or even sliced bread.
happy cooking
chris
.-= Chris De La Rosa´s last blog ..El Yucateco Salsa Picante De Chile Habanero Green Hot Sauce Review. =-.
interesting…….. Never thought you can put fried plantains in a sandwich ? ! Do you put anything else with it?
.-= peanutts´s last blog ..Banana flower curry ( boashi riha) =-.