Tostones (Fried Plantains)

This is a quick and easy post of one of my favorite side items.   Plantains are an awesome vegetable because there are countless different ways to prepare a plantain, fried, boiled or mashed they are always delicious.  One of the most common ways of preparing a green plantain is to make Tostones.  As a kid I loved these things.  I would probably eat more of them then I would my actual meal.

The name for Tostones comes from the word “tostado” which means to toasted.  They are incrediably easy to make and I have yet to serve them to a person who doesn’t enjoy them.  I like to cut mine at a 1 inch diagonal so they come out thin and crispy.  If you cut them too thick they can be very dry.   One very important thing is that you cannot skip the first fry.  Green plantains are very hard and have to be par-cooked in order to be able to mash them.  If you try to mash before the first fry you are going to hurt yourself and end up with a mess.

Lets make tostones shall we?

First peel your plantain.  If you don’t know how go here.

Cut your plantain diagonally into 1 inch slices.  You usually get about 6 slices per plantain.

Fry the plantain slices over medium heat, until golden in color and soften.

They should look a little something like this.  Drain them in a plate lined with paper towels.

If you don’t have a tostonera which is a press for making tostones, take a paper bag and place a plantain slice on it.

Fold the bag over on the plantain slice and using a can, saucer or what ever you have on hand, press down on the plantain slice.

TA-DA! Flat plantain!

Then dredge the flat plantain in a bowl of salted water and drop back into the frying pan.  Stand back because it will spit at you.

Fry until golden and crisp, drain in plate lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

I like mine with a bit of ketchup on the side.  Some people do a mix of mayo and ketchup and some like a garlic sauce on the side.   I choose ketchup.

Yum!  You don’t have to have them with ketchup but that is how I like mine.

Trust me they will be all gone in just a few minutes.  I have to hurry before Obed comes and steals them.  He is hovering behind me….back off holmes!

Print Recipe

Tostones (Fried Plantains)

• 3 green plantains
• salt
• water
• oil for frying

Peel plantain and cut diagonally into 1 inch slices.

Fry the plantain slices over medium heat, until golden in color and soften. Drain them in a plate lined with paper towels.

If you don’t have a tostonera which is a press for making tostones, take a paper bag and place a plantain slice on it. Fold the bag over on the plantain slice and using a can, saucer or what ever you have on hand, press down on the plantain slice to flatten.

Dredge the flat plantains in a bowl of salted water and drop back into the frying pan. Stand back because it will spit at you. Fry until golden and crisp, drain in plate lined with paper towels and sprinkle with salt.

Serve with ketchup or garlic sauce.