Platanos Maduros Costa Rican Fried Ripe Plantains Recipes

FRIED RIPE PLANTAINS - PLATANOS MADUROS FRITOS

Steps:

• Wash and peel the plantains
• Slice the plantains, the best way to slice them is either diagonally or cut the plantain in half and slice lengthwise. The plantain can also be sliced lengthwise full size, but the smaller diagonal or half slices are easier to manage.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large frying pan and add the plantains
• The plantains will cook very quickly, make sure to turn them before they burn and cook until golden on each side. You can use a spatula or a fork to turn them. If the plantain flesh is still pink or white inside it means that it is not yet fully cooked.
• Thicker slices and less ripe plantains will need longer to cook, and maybe more oil.
• Place the cooked plantains on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
• Serve warm

PUERTO RICAN MADUROS (SWEET PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
• Add plantains in a single layer (you will have to do multiple batches). Cook plantains on each side, for about 2-3 minutes, or until they reach a caramelized brown color.
• Transfer to a plate covered with newspaper (or paper towels) and allow to drain for a minute or two. Then serve!

PLATANOS MADUROS (COSTA RICAN FRIED RIPE PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Fully peel plantains, and cut them diagonally into approximately 1-inch wide pieces, working your way down the length of the plantain. (NOT length-wise slices).
• Carefully place pieces of plantain in skillet.
• Flipping often, fry plantains until golden brown. The Plantains will be rather mushy - they're supposed to be.
• *They will be sweet - the riper the plantains, the sweeter they will be. (They will NOT taste like patacones, if you've tried those) If you prefer them sweeter, you can sprinkle with sugar before cooking.

PLATANOS MADUROS

Steps:

• Cut ends from plantains and peel fruit. Diagonally cut plantains into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a large nonstick skillet heat 1/3 cup oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté plantains in batches, without crowding, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side, adding more oil to skillet as necessary. With a spatula transfer plantains as sautéed to paper towels to drain and season with salt if desired.
• Serve plantains immediately.

FRIED SWEET PLANTAINS (PLATANOS MADUROS FRITOS)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt the butter with the olive oil over medium heat; add the plantain slices and fry for about 4 minutes on each side, moving the slices with a spatula occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Remove the plantains from the skillet with a slotted spoon and let drain on paper towels.
• Transfer to a large, warm serving platter, sprinkle with lemon juice and salt and serve warm.
• *unripeplantains are green and hard, as they ripen they turn yellow and then get mottled with dark spots; Ripe plantains are sweet and soft and are brownish-black in color and resemble overripe bananas; To ripen a plantain, keep them in a warm place until they turn yellow, then brownish-black.

PATACONES TICOS (COSTA RICAN FRIED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Peel plantains completely.
• Slice Plantains into 1/2 inch rounds.
• Heat oil in sauce pan until almost boiling.
• CAREFULLY place a handful of plantain rounds into hot oil, leaving them in until light brown, about 2 minutes.
• CAREFULLY remove plantain rounds from hot oil with slotted spoon (preferably metal) and place on a cutting board covered in parchment paper.
• Plantain pieces should be on only half of the parchment paper. Fold second half of parchment paper over them, and with a second board or other hard, flat surface press firmly on the paper-covered plantain rounds.
• The rounds should now be smushed-looking, yet still intact.
• *This can also be done using a metal tortilla press, if available. What I use is like a tortilla press, but is specifically designed for patacones, and I bought it at a supermarket in Costa Rica.
• With slotted spoon, replace pieces of plantain in the oil until golden brown.
• Remove pieces with slotted spoon and place on paper towel. Pieces should be slightly crispy.
• Repeat with another handful of rounds, until all have been cooked.
• Sprinkle with salt, to taste.
• Dip in warm refried beans, or also good with ceviche.