Fried Green Plantains And Garlic Sauce Tostones With Mojo Food

TOSTONES WITH GARLIC MOJO DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For the mojo: Finely mince or use a rasp grater to grate the garlic into a small bowl or the base of a mortar and pestle. Add the salt and pepper and use a fork or the pestle to mash into a paste. Strip the oregano and cilantro leaves off the stems and add them to the bowl, mashing them into the paste. Whisk in the sour orange juice or equal parts lime and orange juice and the olive oil. Taste and add additional salt if desired. Set aside while you prepare the tostones.
• For the tostones: Heat 3 inches of vegetable oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven until it reaches 325 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer.
• While the oil heats, peel the plantains and cut on the bias into 2-inch-thick pieces.
• Fry the plantains in batches until crisp and pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper-towel-lined baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining plantains.
• Move the pot the off the heat (do not discard the oil).
• Line a cutting board with parchment paper and gather a flat-bottomed glass and small bowl of water. Place a fried plantain on the parchment paper, dip the bottom of the glass in the water and use it to smash the plantain to about 1/2-inch thick. Repeat with the rest of the plantains.
• Put the oil on the heat again and bring it back up to 325 degrees F. Fry the smashed plantains in batches until golden and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels, season with salt and serve hot with the garlic mojo dipping sauce.

TOSTONES CON MOJO (FRIED PLANTAINS W/ DIPPING SAUCE)

Steps:

• In a skillet heat 1/2 cup of oil.
• Peel skin off plantain by making a surface cut lengthwise and peeling to the sides (plantains can be tricky to peel).
• Cut the plaintain in diagonal wheels about 1/2 inch thick.
• Make sure oil is sizzling, fry plantains turning once for about 5 minutes (2-1/2 minutes each side).
• Remove plaintains from oil.
• Pat dry plantains, flatten each wheel (use a piece of wax paper folded for thickness) and sprinkle with Adobo or salt.
• Refry plantains until golden and crispy.
• For the"Mojo" combine ketchup and mayonnaise together in a small dish.
• Serve plantains hot.
• Makes a great side dish.

FRIED GREEN PLANTAINS (TOSTONES DE PLATANO VERDE)

Steps:

• Preheat oil in a fryer or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F.
• Peel the plantains and cut into 1-inch pieces. Place into preheated oil and fry for 5 minutes or until they begin to brown. Drain them on a paper-towel lines plate. Flatten them using a Tostonera or the bottom of a metal can and fry again at 385 degrees F for approximately 3 minutes. Drain again and sprinkle with salt and Garlic Mojo. For softer fried plantains, soak for a few minutes in salted water after the first fry, drain and fry again.
• Chop up the garlic very thinly or crush using a mortar and pestle or food processor with the salt to form a thick paste. In a mixing bowl, combine the garlic paste and juice, and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or longer.

TWICE-FRIED AND MASHED GREEN PLANTAINS (TOSTONES)

Steps:

• In a heavy pot, add enough oil to fill halfway. Heat until a deep-frying thermometer reads 350 degrees F or the handle of a wooden spoon begins to sizzle immediately when dipped in the oil.
• Add the plantains and fry until bright yellow and slightly golden brown, about 4 minutes. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon to a sheet of parchment paper. Make sure all pieces are standing tall on the cut side, then place another sheet over the top. Using a small plate, glass or other flat item smash each piece into a 1/4-inch jagged circle.
• Place the plantain discs back in the oil and fry for 4 to 6 more minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt.