Platanos Maduros (Fried Sweet Plantains)

Plantains are a very versatile and cheap food item. There are so many Cuban recipes involving plantains that vary in their preparation. One of my absolute favorite ways to make plantains is to fry very ripened plantains into what is called Platanos Maduros.  Plantains can range in color from green (unripened and not sweet) to yellow (ripe and somewhat sweet), and all the way to black (extremely ripe and sweet). For platanos maduros, you want to use ripe plantains that are at least yellow and beginning to turn brown or black. The darker (browner) the plantain, the better because they will taste very sweet when cooked, which is what you want for making platanos maduros (fried sweet plantains). What I love about platanos maduros is that they perfectly complement a vast amount of main dishes in Cuban cooking. The sweetness of the platanos maduros offers a counterpoint to many of the salty and savory flavored dishes of Cuban cuisine, which makes any meal feel complete and incredibly satisfying.  The fact that plantains are very affordable and the recipe for platanos maduros is quite simple, makes them a great side dish for any meal, even recipes outside of Cuban cuisine.  So give this recipe a try, have fun, and enjoy!

Platanos Maduros Recipe 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 or more Yellow ripened plantains that are turning brown/black
• Corn or vegetable oil for frying

TOOLS NEEDED:

• A frying pan
• A knife for cutting
• Forks or spatula to flipping and removing plantains from oil

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION / INSTRUCTIONS

BRIEF DIRECTIONS (See the video demonstration for detailed instructions):

1. First, peel the plantains and cut diagonally with a knife into slices 3/4th of an inch thick (see video demonstration for further detail).
2. Fill a frying pan with oil at least a 1/2 inch deep. 
3. Heat the oil on high and once hot enough, carefully place the plantain slices in the frying pan, so they are not overlapping. Cook on one side for 1 minute and 30 seconds, until golden brown or browned. Reduce the heat to medium-high and flip the plantains over to cook on the reverse side for 1 minute and 30 seconds, until golden brown or browned. If needed, flip over one more time and cook each side for an additional 10 to 15 seconds. You just want the platanos maduros to be in the range of being golden brown to brown. Some of the edges may blacken, but that is okay as the flavor will still be amazing. Once done frying, remove the plantains from the oil and place on a plate to serve. 

***NOTE: The plantains will continue to cook once they are removed from the frying pan,

so remove them when they are browned to avoid burning them.

***NOTE: Also, monitor the heat of the oil throughout the cooking process as the natural

sugars from the plantains can make them burn rapidly. If the oil looks like it is getting too hot reduce the heat. If the oil begins to smoke remove the frying pan from the heat. Try to avoid the oil getting to the point of smoking as the plantains will burn quickly.