How to cook plantains?

[se7en]

I tried cooking some plantains last night and it didn't go well although they didn't bomb totally. I was trying to make the sweet variety /w brown sugar and butter but I don't know if I cooked them too long or if they weren't ripe enough yet.

Several google searches said everything from cooking on low heat for 30min to med heat and then also placing them in the oven. I cooked them stove top and the outside was kind of tough and the center wasn't as soft as they were when prepared by people who know how.

Any help would be great!

Cliffs-
I dont know how to cook sweet plantains
I tried and they werent very good
help

 

[zerocool1]

look on the food network site. they may be able to help

 

[PottedMeat]

Wait till the skin turns dark/black and nuke it for ~3 minutes. Remove skin and slice into sections with a fork. Wait for it to cool. Eat.

Or slice into sections ( plantain isn't fully dark yet ), roll in granulated sugar, and fry until it turns into a caramel color.

 

[Isla]

Ay papi, plantanos maduras need to be black and squishy before you cook them! They have to look like they are rotting to be sweet. There is no other way to make them. You can speed up the ripening by placing them in brown paper bags.

 

[bignateyk]

Wait until they are completely black, then slice them up and toss them on the grill. Thats all there is to it.

If you cook them before they look like they are rotten, they will be starchy and flavorless.

 

[Freaknificent]

Yup yup, you know like a banana turns musy and brown/black, well for a plantain thats prime time for cooking.

however some spanish peoples like the not so sweet flavor of the unripened plantain and what they do is, cut into slices, pound with a kitchen mallet until its really flat then deep fry and a lil bit of salt. kinda tastes like chips. i prefer mine the way that the above posters stated... wait til black, cut her open, slice n fry.

Edit: BTW, when frying just do it til golden brown on med-high heat. should take maybe 2-3 mins i think on each side. you'll know when they're ready.

 

[se7en]

Thanks for the help everyone!!

Apparently I did try to cook them too soon as they were not very dark yet.

 

[loup garou]

Tostones, maduros, mofongo, etc

I also sometimes substitute very ripe plantains for bananas in bananas foster (my grandmother had a plantain tree in her backyard).

 

[clamum]

Topic title reminds me of a little story called "Plains, Trains, And Plantains: The Story Of Oedipus".

 

[dmw16]

Alton Brown (show is Good Eats) cooked plantains. Check out food network.

 

[UNCjigga]

Sweet or salty?

 

[StevenYoo]

i just peel one strip from the plantain skin, and throw it in the microwave for 4-5 min.

 

[HN]

also, for the super-ripe version, you don't need to add sugar or butter. They'll be plenty sweet as is and you'll be deep frying.

if anyone is in the north bergen, nj area, i highly recommend Mundo Latino. Excellent service, large portions, reasonably priced, and killer maduros.

damn those things are good.
<---vietnamese grew up with cubans

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: Isla
Ay papi, plantanos maduras need to be black and squishy before you cook them! They have to look like they are rotting to be sweet. There is no other way to make them. You can speed up the ripening by placing them in brown paper bags.

yup

 

[tfinch2]

Fry those suckers, then sprinkle brown sugar on them.

My GF is Cuban, and whenever I eat a meal at her house that's the way they are served.

 

[Xstatic1]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
Fry those suckers, then sprinkle brown sugar on them.

My GF is Cuban, and whenever I eat a meal at her house that's the way they are served.

yummmm!!!