Platanos Maduros Recipes

FRIED RIPE PLANTAINS - PLATANOS MADUROS FRITOS

Steps:

• Wash and peel the plantains
• Slice the plantains, the best way to slice them is either diagonally or cut the plantain in half and slice lengthwise. The plantain can also be sliced lengthwise full size, but the smaller diagonal or half slices are easier to manage.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large frying pan and add the plantains
• The plantains will cook very quickly, make sure to turn them before they burn and cook until golden on each side. You can use a spatula or a fork to turn them. If the plantain flesh is still pink or white inside it means that it is not yet fully cooked.
• Thicker slices and less ripe plantains will need longer to cook, and maybe more oil.
• Place the cooked plantains on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
• Serve warm

PUERTO RICAN MADUROS (SWEET PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• In a non-stick skillet over medium heat, melt butter.
• Add plantains in a single layer (you will have to do multiple batches). Cook plantains on each side, for about 2-3 minutes, or until they reach a caramelized brown color.
• Transfer to a plate covered with newspaper (or paper towels) and allow to drain for a minute or two. Then serve!

PLATANOS MADUROS (COSTA RICAN FRIED RIPE PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat.
• Fully peel plantains, and cut them diagonally into approximately 1-inch wide pieces, working your way down the length of the plantain. (NOT length-wise slices).
• Carefully place pieces of plantain in skillet.
• Flipping often, fry plantains until golden brown. The Plantains will be rather mushy - they're supposed to be.
• *They will be sweet - the riper the plantains, the sweeter they will be. (They will NOT taste like patacones, if you've tried those) If you prefer them sweeter, you can sprinkle with sugar before cooking.

MADUROS

Steps:

• Heat approximately 1/4 inch of oil, or just enough for plantain slices to be halfway submerged, in a medium skillet over medium heat.
• Cut off the ends of the plantains. Slit the skin of each plantain by running the tip of your knife from one end of the "rib" to the other; peel the skin. Cut at an angle, making slices that are about 3/4-inch thick.
• Brown plantain slices in the hot oil until brown, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Remove from the skillet and place on a paper towel-covered plate to drain off excess oil. Sprinkle with salt while still moist.

PLATANOS MADUROS

Steps:

• Cut ends from plantains and peel fruit. Diagonally cut plantains into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a large nonstick skillet heat 1/3 cup oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté plantains in batches, without crowding, until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes on each side, adding more oil to skillet as necessary. With a spatula transfer plantains as sautéed to paper towels to drain and season with salt if desired.
• Serve plantains immediately.

MADUROS (FRIED SWEET PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Use a paring knife to cut a slit along the length of the plantains, carefully avoiding cutting into the flesh. Remove peels and discard. Slice plantains at an angle crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick pieces (about 12 pieces per plantain).
• In a large skillet, heat about 1/8 inch vegetable oil over medium-high. When the oil shimmers, add half the sliced plantains and fry until golden brown, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side. The plantains should be caramelized and slightly crisp at the edges but still tender in the middle.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer maduros to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Repeat with remaining sliced plantains. Serve immediately.

PLATANOS MADUROS (FRIED YELLOW PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Peel and slice the plantains in half crosswise, then again lengthwise. Cut each piece into 2 or 3 1/4-inch slices.
• Heat the oil (a depth of about 1/2 inch) in an cast-iron skillet until very hot. Add the plantain slices and fry until soft and golden brown, about 45 seconds to 1 minute.