How to prepare platanos and tostonis?

Question

I know...well at least I think I know...one is prepared to taste sweet and one is prepared fried...what are the best recipes to make these. I used to eat them as a kid and haven't had them in years and I would like to try to prepare them.

Answer 1

Fried Green Plantains (platanos)

Vegetable oil for frying

Green plantain,  peeled and cut into 2" slices

Salt

Directions:

Peel the plantain: Cut the ends of each plantain off with a sharp knife. Use the knife to cut through the peel only the entire lenth of the plantain. Loosen the peel along the cut and remove peel by hand.

Cut the plantain into slices, about 2" to 2 1/2" wide.

Fill a large skillet a third full with oil and heat over medium-high heat to a temperature of about 300 degrees F. Once the oil is hot, fry the plantain slices for approximately 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, just long enough to make them soft.

Remove the plantains and drain on paper towels. Use a plantain press or a brown paper bag folded over to smash the plantains to about half their thickness.Let the oil come back to a higher temperature -- this time about 375 degrees F. Fry once again, turning occasionally, until golden brown on both sides.Remove and use paper towels to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle with plenty of salt and serve

Tostones (Flattened Fried Plantains)

2 unripened plantains

1/2 cup of oil

4 teaspoons of cold water

1/2 teaspoons of mashed garlic

Preparation:

Peel the plantains and cut into 1 inch thick slices.  In a deep frying pan heat the oil and fry the plantains until golden brown.

Flatten the plantains using the bottom of a flat bottomed glass bottle.  Fry the plantains again for 30 seconds on each side.

(This part is optional) Mix the water, a pinch of salt and the mashed garlic.  Stir and pour over the plantains.

Serve immediately.

hope these help.    good luck and enjoy.

Answer 2

To make Plaintains or Platanos (yellow or black):

-Get a ripe plantain

-peel then cut the slices diagonally

-& just fry until golden yellow

To make Tostones:

-Get a green or partially green/yellow plantain

-peel and cut the same way as you would for regular plantains

-fry in a pan for about 30 seconds

-Take them out and squish them with the bottom of a cup

-Put them back into the pan and fry until golden and crispy (but not burnt!)

-sprinkle some salt ontop of these for some flavour.

Answer 3

tostones are green....slice fry add salt

plantanos are sweet.......wait until the banana is black....slice fry and enjoy........................wait til both r golden brown