Patacones Fried Plantain Food

PATACONES DE COLOMBIA (FRIED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Place a plate, upside-down, onto a work surface.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry plantain slices in the hot oil until slightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer plantain slices using a slotted spoon onto the upside-down plate, reserving oil in the skillet. Place a second plate, right-side up, onto the plantains. Smash the plantain slices by gently pressing the top plate into the bottom plate.
• Place the smashed plantains in the hot oil and fry until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer fried plantains to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle salt over plantains.

PATACONES (FRIED PLANTAIN)

Steps:

• Peel Plantain, and cut it width wise into 3 or 4 pieces.
• I have found that the easiest way to peel the plantain is to cut roughly 1/4" off of each end of the plantain (the very tips), and then carefully, without cutting into the plantain itself, slicing the skin down one side.
• Once you have slit the skin on one side, you can gently pry the peel off with your fingers.
• Heat 1" of vegetable oil on medium heat until hot.
• Fry plantain pieces on both sides for about 3 minutes, or until the pieces are golden.
• When they are golden, remove from pan and place onto a plate covered with a paper towel.
• Flatten the fried plantain.
• I do this by placing the pieces one at a time between 2 pieces of waxed paper, and flattening with my hands.
• Be careful not to put too much pressure, or the plantain will stick to the waxed paper.
• Just gently flatten them till they are about 1/4" thick.
• Place in the hot oil again and fry until both sides are golden brown.
• Drain on paper towel covered plate (be sure to change paper towels in between the 2 fryings) and sprinkle with salt.
• Serve immediately.
• For an extra special treat, eat the patacones with a thin slice of queso blanco (salty white cheese) on top.

PLANTAIN CHIPS PATACONES

Steps:

• Cut off the ends of the plantains and then carefully cut a slit down the length of the skin without cutting into the plantain itself. Using a wooden spoon, pry up the edges of the peel and pull off the skin. Once the peel is removed cut the plantain crosswise into 3 or 4 pieces, each about 2 to 3 inches long.
• Heat the oil in a medium skillet over high heat until it shimmers, about 3 minutes. Add the plantains and fry them until they turn golden on all sides, about 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then place between 2 sheets of parchment paper. Reduce the heat to medium.
• Flatten the plantains by pressing down on them with a heavy-bottomed pan. Return 1/2 of the flattened plantains to the oil and re-fry until deep golden on both sides, about 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer back to the paper towel-lined plate to drain and repeat with the remaining flattened plantains. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.

PATACONES (FRIED GREEN PLANTAINS) - PANAMá

Steps:

• Put the 4 cups warm water & ~1 Tbsp salt in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Cut ends from each plantain w/ a small, sharp knife, then cut lengthwise slit thru peel. Beginning at slit, pry off peel (getting your thumb between the peel & the plantain helps).
• Cut plantains crosswise into 1-inch thick pieces & place in bowl of warm salted water. Let sit 15-20 minute (This step adds flavor & also gets rid of some of the starch from the plantains.).
• Heat oil (enough so that it is about 1/2" deep) in a 10-12" heavy skillet over MEDIUM heat until the oil is just hot enough to sizzle when a small "tester" piece of plantain is added.
• Remove plantain pieces from the water & blot (completely) dry w/ paper towels.
• Place plantain pieces in the oil (do not crowd the skillet w/ plantains; do 2 batches if needed). Fry plantains, turning occasionally w/ tongs, until tender & just beginning to turn golden color, ~5-7 minutes.
• Remove plantain pieces w/ tongs to a flat (non-stick) surface. Spray the bottom of a glass tumbler or mug w/ non-stick cooking spray. Using gentle pressure, flatten each plantain piece to ~1/4" thickness. Slide glass off of plantain.
• Return flattened plantains to oil (over MEDIUM heat). Fry (turning occasionally w/ tongs) until plantains are golden brown in color, 3-4 minutes.
• Transfer plantains to a plate w/ a fresh paper towel, but DO NOT BLOT. Sprinkle w/ salt & serve immediately, w/ ketchup (optional).

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST FRIED PLANTAINS EVER

Steps:

• Heat bacon grease over medium -high heat in a heavy skillet.
• Meanwhile cut ends off of plantains,cut a slit in the skin and peel.Cut into strips lengthwise;you may cut each of these into halves if you like.Cut them thick-it will be hard to cut them thinly anyway if they are very ripe-about 1/4 inch thick is good.Don't worry if your pieces come out a little messy.The taste is more important!
• The oil is ready when it bubbles as soon as a piece of plantain is slid into it.Add plantain slices,cooking about 1 plantain at a time.When they begin to brown around the edges,turn them and cook until very dark.They should look almost burnt because the sugars in the plantains are caramelized.
• Remove to a plate lined with paper towels to drain .Sprinkle with salt or sugar if desired and serve hot.

PATACON MARACUCHO (FRIED PLANTAIN SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium-high heat. Add plantain halves and fry, turning once, until light brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and split each plantain in half lengthwise, keeping them hinged on the inward-curved side. Place on cutting board cut sides down and, using a plate, flatten each into a 1/4″-thick round disk. One at a time, return each plantain disk to the oil and fry, turning once, until crisp and golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Purée mayonnaise, cilantro, and avocado in a food processor until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl and add chicken; toss to coat. Place chicken mixture on one plantain disk and top with lettuce and tomato. Cover with remaining disk.

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.