How to Make Fried Plantains - Recipes From A Pantry (2024)

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Fried plantains are a tasty and versatile dish that can be served as a breakfast, snack, starter, side dish, or main course. Try this simple and easy-to-make fried plantains recipe and you’ll be hooked.

Suitable for vegan and paleo diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.

Guys, there is nothing better than sitting down to a portion of warm sweet fried plantains. All across West Africa and the Caribbean, fried plantains are served as snacks or starters and as a side dish to foods such as jollof riceand chicken and fried dough Sometimes they are served as the mains to mop up some peanut stew or bean stew.

In Sierra Leone, vendors sell fried plantains as part of the popular street staple ‘fry fry’. Imagine a sandwich stuffed absolutely full of plantains, fish, eggs, etc all topped up with a spicy onion gravy. Oh, the memories.

And if you have any leftover plantains then you can repurpose them into these awesome Plantain Pancakes.

You Will Love This Recipe Because

• there are only 2 ingredients
• it is easy to prepare
• it is comforting
• kids and picky eater love it

Fried Plantains Tools

Ready to how to cook plantains? Then gather up your ingredients and let me show you…..

How To Fry Plantains

For this recipe, I prefer my plantains firm and yellow to create sweet fried plantains that are sweet enough but not syrupy sweet.

1. Peel and slice plantains, and sprinkle some salt on both sides.
2. Preheat oil in a frying pan or skillet.
3. Add plantain and fry one side of the plantains till golden brown, then turn over using a slotted spoon or turner and fry on the other side.
4. (The second side will cook much quicker, so keep an eye on your plantains. A ruined plantain is a tragedy.)
5. Carefully remove plantains from the hot oil using a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
6. Repeat till all the plantains are cooked and serve your fried plantains warm.

Prefer To Cook Them In The Air Fryer? Here Is How

1. Preheatair fryerto 350F /180C
2. Peel the plantain and cut into slices and add to a bowl.
3. Gently mix in theoilandsaltuntil plantains are coated on both sides.
4. Put half the plantain slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
5. Cook for 10 mins turning half way through using yourtongs.
6. Serve warm

Recipe Tips

Here are a few tips to help you cook these easily

• Use the oils you have. You can fry plantains using rapeseed oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil or butter.
• Serve warm! If making a big batch, place your cooked Plantains in a warm oven to keep the temperature.
• You might need to reduce the heat on the plantains as well after turning the slices, as the second side cooks much quicker than the first.

Seasonings

Options are endless with seasonings. Just a little bit of salt is one of my favourite ways to snack on fried Plantains. But you can use

• homemade stone house seasoning {best easy tasty seasoning you can make ever)
• ground cinnamon
• ground cardamom
• ground nutmeg
• cayenne pepper
• cinnamon sugar
• melted chocolate

FAQ’s

How to Peel Plantains And Cut them

If you’re wondering how to peel plantains, let me begin by telling you whatnotto do.

The worst way to peel a plantain: like it’s a banana. If you do this with a green plantain, the end result will be a plantain covered with large pieces of peel that have held on for dear life.

If you do this with a yellow or black plantain, the end result will be a mess (especially with black-peeled plantains).

• How to peel plantains the right way: on a cutting board, use a sharp knife to cut off each end.
• Next, while firmly holding the plantain, slit the peel lengthwise with the tip of your knife along each seam. (Only go as deep as the peel.)
• Carefully remove each section of the peel and voila — you have a peeled plantain. Now you can tell all your friends how to peel plantains.

And cut them…

All The Types

Plantains are indeed special and pretty versatile too. How versatile? There are three types and each is unique with its own special texture and flavour. Try them in their various stages of ripeness till you find what works for you.

Fried Green Plantains (Savory Plantains)

Fried green plantains are unripe, but they can still be cooked with as you would a starchy vegetable. Fried green plantains are fried twice, and they are crispy but not sweet.

Fried Yellow Plantains (Sweet Fried Plantains)

Yellow plantains are firm and sweeter. Fried yellow plantains are my favourite type of fried plantains as they are sweet but not too much.

Fried Ripe Plantains (Very Sweet Fried Plantains)

When a plantain’s peel turns black, that plantain is ripe as can be. Those in the dark about the delight of plantains will turn their nose up at a black-peeled plantain, but you, plantain aficionado, will not be fooled. Fried ripe plantains result in very sweet fried plantains.

Plantain vs Banana – What Is The Difference

A plantain is a starchy fruit that’s part of the banana family but it isn’t quite like a banana. Typically, you wouldn’t eat it raw because the plantain is starchier and is not as sweet as a banana. Their skins are also much thicker than bananas. You would need to cook plantains before you eat them.

Bananas are less starchier. You can eat bananas uncooked as long as they are ripe, although you can cook them too if you prefer.

More Plantain Recipes

Need more Plantain Recipes, then try these below.

• Plantain Pancakes.
• Air Fryer Plantains.
• Instant Pot Plantain Pumpkin Curry.
• Plantains Waffles.

Weight Watchers Points

• There are 10 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of fried plantains.
• A serving of air fryer plantains contains 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints.

Thank you for reading my sweet fried plantains recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you.

Originally published March 2013. Updated March 2020.

How To Make Fried Plantains