Prep:4 mins
Cook:5 mins
Total:9 mins
Servings:2 servings
Yield:2 plantains
Fried ripe plantains have a crispy, caramelized texture and irresistibly sweet taste. It’s a ubiquitous Caribbean dish that is served with almost every meal, and it’s enjoyed in other parts of the world as well. This is a quick and easy recipe that is sure to bring the taste of the Caribbean into your home.
Plantains are a member of the banana family. Unlike a banana, plantains are starchy and need to be cooked before eating. As a plantain ripens, its starches are converted to natural sugars, resulting in a sweeter taste. Frying a fully ripe plantain quickly in oil coaxes all the sugar to the surface where it’s caramelized. This creates a delicious chip that’s simultaneously crisp and sweet. After the first taste, you’ll realize why this is one of the best ways to eat plantain.
The keys to successful fried plantains are choosing ripe fruit and using the right pan, oil, and heat. A ripe plantain’s skin should be almost black or, in some cases, have a dull yellow color with patches of black. In addition to being sweeter, ripe fruit peels easily and cooks in no time.
Serve fried ripe plantains as a side dish or snack. They’re excellent alongside island favorites like red beans and rice and Jamaican jerk chicken and can be added to soups or stews. In the South American country of Guyana, they’re traditionally served with a national dish called cook-up rice (rice, beans, and meat cooked with coconut milk).
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