Plantains

[TheFu]

I went to the grocery store and I guess the people in front of me didn't get their plantains as they ended up in my bag when I got home (why couldn't it have been Guinness?)

Anyway, what the hell do I do with them? I've had them cooked at various Cuban restraunts and I like them but I have three of these things and they are ripening fast. Besides frying them is there any other use?

[Locobot]

It's not healthy but deep-frying is the way to go with plantains. I've never enjoyed them any other way, there must be something else though. In Central America I had Plantain chips that were good, like potato chips but not quite as good.

[TheFu]

I've had the plantain chips too. Really good. Even better with a pineapple salsa. Yum.

[jadedt]

In the future you can roast them or stew them like a starch (i.e. potatoes) or pan fry bias cut thick slices so they are crunchy and salty on the outside and tender and slightly sweet on the inside.

[KinkyKiwi]

deep fry them in at least a 1/2 inch of oil -very hot-use a flour batter with a small amount of salt..coat them in that then spray them lightly with water (LIGHTLY) then sprinkle them with sugar...fry em up and serve them hot

[Ripsaw]

Slice plaintains crosswise, into one inch chunks.
In half an inch of 350 degree oil, fry plaintains until golden brown, turning once.
Remove and set to drain on a rack.
Stand plantains upright on a cutting board or other suitable flat surface and squish with a pancake flipper, or other flat object.
Fry again until golden brown.
Season with whatever you like.

[bingle]

You can also wait until they're very ripe (unlike bananas, plantains are best when they're black), and slice them up, then saute in butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Less-ripe plantains are more starchy and less sweet, so this will work best if you let them sit for a while first!

Bingle

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by bingle

You can also wait until they're very ripe (unlike bananas, plantains are best when they're black), and slice them up, then saute in butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Less-ripe plantains are more starchy and less sweet, so this will work best if you let them sit for a while first!

Bingle

Actually there is nothing wrong with eating bananas when their skin turns black... they too are much sweeter then. The idea that bananas are bad when they turn black is a fallicy perpetuated by large fruit growing companies.

[KinkyKiwi]

...umm char..or maybe they just look really gross..like a dead fingernail...

[Memalvada]

Originally Posted by Ripsaw

Slice plaintains crosswise, into one inch chunks.
In half an inch of 350 degree oil, fry plaintains until golden brown, turning once.
Remove and set to drain on a rack.
Stand plantains upright on a cutting board or other suitable flat surface and squish with a pancake flipper, or other flat object.
Fry again until golden brown.
Season with whatever you like.

Yummy, I like the sound of this

[pinkie]

I sauté them and add them to curry.

[splck]

Check out this thread. There was a few other ways of cooking them mentioned.
http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=60916

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Actually there is nothing wrong with eating bananas when their skin turns black... they too are much sweeter then. The idea that bananas are bad when they turn black is a fallicy perpetuated by large fruit growing companies.

Very true. The skin can turn completely black, infact to stop bananas from rotting, put them in the refrigerator, the skin will turn black, but they will taste awesome.