Fried Plantains (Tostones)
Yield: 6 Servings
Ingredients:
- 3 Green plantains peeled and cut diagonally
- 3 cloves of garlic chopped
- 3 cups of water
- 3tbs salt
- 4 cups of vegetable oil
Instruction:
- In a large skillet heat 4 cups of oil until 375 degrees. Add plantains and fry for 6 minutes. Drain plantains on a paper towel.
- Proceed by smashing the plantains with The Tostonera La Joya
- Use a large bowl to combine water, plantains, garlic and 2tbs of salt).
- Drop the plantains for about 30 second and dry plantains on paper towels. Refry plantain in hot oil until crisp and golden; drain on paper towels.
- Lightly sprinkle remaining 1tbs of salt over the plantains and serve hot.
Plantains stuffed with black beans
(Rellenitos de Platanos)
Ingredients:
- 6 Plantains, peeled and broken into chucks
- 1 can refried black beans
- 1tbs white sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 quart oil for frying
Instruction:
- Place the plantains in water and cover in a large pot. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender, 15 minutes. Drain and mash.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the refried beans. Stir in the sugar and salt. Remove from heat.
- To make the rellenitos, form a palm-sized amount of mashed plantains into a ball; flatten and place about a teaspoon of the bean mixture in the middle; then mold sides if the plantain around the beans, making an egg-shaped ball.
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 375 degrees or until a small amount of batter sizzled and browns in the oil. Fry rellenitos in oil until browned. Drain on paper towel and lightly sprinkle salt and sever hot.
Mofongo
(Makes about 3 medium size balls)
Monfongo is made by mashing tostones (twice fried plantains) with garlic, olive oil, and chicarrones or bacon.
Ingredients:
- 3 green plantains
- 1 tablespoon crushed garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ lb. chicharrón or cooked bacon (crumbled)
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
- First make fried plantain.
- Mix together the garlic olive oil and chicharron or bacon.
- Mash the tostones, a few at a time in the pilon (never use a food processor), adding a little bit of the garlic mixture. You will have to work a few slices at a time. When all done mix all the batches together for even distribution of seasoning. Add salt if needed. This is a side dish that needs to be served warm. Keep forming balls until mixture is all used up.
- Serve with fried pork meat and fried onions.
Sweet Skillet Plantains
(Platanos Dulce)
Ingredients:
- 4 ripe plantains (Use very ripe plantains -
more orange in color with a few black spots.)
- 1/2 cup of butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup of water
- 2/3 cup cooking wine
- 1/2 teaspoonful vanilla extract
- 2 cinnamon sticks
Instructions:
- Peel the plantains and cut them in half and then cut each half in 4 lengthwise slices.
- Sauté the plantains in butter and add the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat, covered for about 15 minutes or so. Serve hot in its own gravy.
Plantain Chips - Platanutres 
Ingredients:
- 3 green bananas or plantains
- Garlic
- Salt
- oil for frying
Instructions:
- Slice the plantains as in making potato chips. You may use a food processor.
- Fry until crisp and season with garlic salt.
Pastelon de Plátano Maduro
(Yellow Plantain Cake)
Ingredient:
- 1 box (1lb. Goya ripe sliced plantains)
- 1 lb. lean ground beef
- ¼ cup ready made Sofrito
- 2 tbsps. vegetable oil
- ½ can tomato sauce
- 1 tbsps. sliced olives and pimentos
- 1 tsp. capers
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheese
- 2 eggs, slightly beaten with 1 tsp. water
Instruction:
- In a skillet heat up the oil, add the meat and cook for about 4 minutes, then add the tomato sauce and cook another 5 minutes or so breaking down the meat. Add the olives with pimentos and the capers, and the salt and black pepper. Stir and set aside.
- Heat up the platains in the microwave until hot. Then mash them down slightly using a fork. Layer the bottom of a 9-inch pie plate with slices of plantain (these come already cooked) - about half the box. Layer half the meat over that, then more plantains and then meat. Sprinkle cheese over the last layer. Pour the egg and water mixture as evenly as you can over the cheese.
Cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes until egg is cooked and cheese is melted. Serve warm.
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