Patacones Tostones Food

TOSTONES RECIPE

Steps:

• Slice the ends off of the plantains. Make three vertical cuts along the length of the plantain, only making sure that you are cutting into the skin. Under cold running water, using your fingers or a butter knife (the tip of your knife works best) to remove the skins. With a sharp knife, cut each plantain into ¾-inch to 1-inch slices. Set aside.
• Mix the 3 cups of water and salt together (just until the salt is dissolved). Place the thick rounds in the salt water for ½ hour or no less than 10 minutes.
• In the meantime, prepare the Ajillo: Using a mortar and pestle, pound the salt and garlic together. Add in the cilantro and break it down until it's pasty. Once that's done, mix in the olive oil and adjust the salt to taste. Alternatively, you can use a food processor or finely chop the cilantro, grate the garlic, and mix everything together.
• To make the Mayo Ketchup Sauce: In a small bowl, combine ketchup, mayonaisse, and garlic, and set aside (this will be good for up to 3 days, covered, in the refrigerator).
• Remove the plantain slices from the water and dry them well with paper towel or a kitchen towel. This will prevent oil splatters.
• Heat the oil on medium heat (oil should be around 325ºF / 160ºC). In batches, place the plantains in the hot oil and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Repeat with all the plantains, then remove from the oil and drain.
• Place one of the fried plantains between two pieces of parchment paper. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, the bottom of a mug, bottom of a glass, or bottom of a heavy sauce pan or small cast-iron skillet, smash the plantain down until it is evenly flattened (roughly 1/4-inch / 2/3-cm thick. Repeat with the rest of the fried plantains.
• While smashing all of the plantains, crank the heat to medium-high heat (the oil should register 350ºF / 180ºC to 360ºF / 190ºC). After all of the plantains have been smashed, fry them once again until golden brown and crispy. Immediately salt them as they come out of the oil.
• Serve Tostones with Ajillo and or Mayo Ketchup Sauce.

PATACONES RECIPE: TWICE-FRIED PLANTAIN WITH AJI SAUCE

Steps:

• Slice the ends off of each plantain, then slice the unpeeled plantains crosswise into 1 1/2-inch wide circles.
• Place the plantain slices in a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 cups water to soak for 1 hour.
• After soaking, peel the plantain slices . If the peel does not come off easily, make a slit through the skin with a sharp knife, then peel it off. Place the peeled plantain slices on paper towels and pat dry.
• In a heavy skillet, heat 1 to 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 F.
• Place plantain slices in the oil and cook until golden (the plantain should sizzle gently). Work in batches if necessary and drain on paper towels.
• Use the bottom of a glass or bottle to flatten the slices of plantain into disks about 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick.
• Return flattened plantains to the hot oil and fry until a deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and sprinkle generously with kosher salt.
• Serve plantain warm with aji sauce for dipping.

PATACONES (FRIED GREEN PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Peel the plantains and cut cross-wise into 1/2" slices
• In a medium heavy pot, add enough vegetable oil to cover the plantain slices and heat the oil over medium high heat.
• Add the plantain slices to the heated oil in a single layer. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Carefully remove the plantains with a slotted spoon, and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
• Let the patacones cool for 3 minutes. Then, place the plantains on a piece of plastic wrap and cover with another piece of plastic wrap. With a flat pot cover, press well on the pieces of plantain, flattening them to ¼" thickness.
• Dip each slice in salted water. Then using tongs add them back in the hot oil in a single layer (you may need to work in batches) and fry for an additional 3 minutes on each side. Be careful when you fry the soaked plantains, as droplets of water will cause the oil to splatter.
• Remove the patacones with slotted spoon and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb oil, sprinkle with salt, to taste, transfer to a serving plate and serve hot with guacamole, tomato sauce or salsa.

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.

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).