Fried Plantains
I figured I’d throw a few cooking things up on this blog since I really like to cook. This is a recipe I found off the food network website and modified. These things are easy to make, delicious, and healthier than french fries. What you need:
Plantains
Cooking Oil
Salt
Garlic
Honey (optional)
Lots of paper towels
First cut up and peel some plantains into 0.75 to 1.5 inch lengths.
Meanwhile heat up some cooking oil on the stove.
Place the plantains in the oil and brown each side. You want to cook the cut ends.
While that is cooking mix some salt and hot water in a bowl, enough to cover the plantains. You also want to smash and cut up a clove or two of garlic. Crush the garlic against the side of a knife. Crushing it ruptures the membranes in the garlic letting out more flavor vs. just cutting it. Put the chopped garlic in the water. I also throw a little honey in the water to sweeten them up some more. Although if your plantain is fairly ripe like this one is you might not need it.
I found greener plantains have a more starchy potato taste but still sweet, while the riper ones are much more sweet and mushy. Both ways taste good, try them both!
These are looking pretty good.
Remove the slices from the oil and pat them dry with a paper towel. With the side of your knife, squish each plantain slice so it is about 0.5 inches. Frying the ends helps the piece keep its form and stay together.
Put the plantain pieces in the hot garlic salt water to soak for about 5-10 minutes.
For the heck of it I left three slices in the water for a few more minutes and added curry, cinnamon, and hot sauce to the water. Will the hotness and sweetness of the curry and hot sauce mix with the sweet bananas? We will see.
Here is the rest of my meal. Frozen tamales, while not the best, aren’t bad for the price. Also some tasty New Glarus beer. Wisconsin represent!
Dry the plantains off and throw them in the oil and cook each side.
With deep fried things for me, the crispier the better. I separated the spicy plantains to the front. The smell of the spices coming off them is delicious.
When both sides are done to your liking, dry the oil off on a paper towel and eat. They will be very hot so be careful! Enjoy!
For the spicy slices: They turned out pretty good. I don’t think I soaked them long enough because the taste wasn’t very strong, but you could taste the heat in the crust which went really well with the sweet plantain.
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