Plantains Por Favor!

Being that I am of Caribbean descent, Puerto Rican to be more precise, I am often asked about one of my dietary staples, the plantain.

Plantains are similar to its smaller cousin, the banana but are in my opinion much more versatile. They can be cooked ripened or unripened, their flavor varying greatly depending on its stage in maturity.

Plantains are a huge part of my gastronomy. I quite honestly don't understand how so many can go on without knowing of their goodness! Hopefully this will inspire you to let them into your diet, as there are so many ways to eat them, you would be foolish not to.

Here are some of the most common, and most delicious ways to eat a plantain.

Pasteles - Pasteles are similar to tamales in the way that they are prepared. These are made with a puree of unripened plantain, that is laid of a sheet of wax paper and/or banana leaf, stuffed with meat and then wrapped and tied together with string. These are then cooked in boiling water. To me, and most Puerto Ricans, eating a pastel or "pasteles" as we call them most often (can't have just one) is synonymous with the Christmas holiday.

Mofongo- A savory dish also made with unripened plantains. Here plantains are first cut into medium pieces then deep fried, then finally molded into a "pilón" or wooden mortar. A stew then fills the mortar. This is often made of seafood, chicken or pork.

Mangu- Arguably a Dominican dish, this is one of the simplest ways to prepare a plantain. Unripened plantains are boiled and then pureed, often butter and garlic is added.

Pastelón- My all-time favorite way to eat plantains. Pastelón is very structurally similar to lasagna. Sweet plantains are fried into long strips that are layered between lots of cheese and ground beef.

Amarillos Fritos or Maduros - The most popular way to eat plantains is by simply peeling an over-ripened plantain cutting into 3/4 inch pieces and deep frying.

Tostones- Unripened plantains are fried, flattened and fried again: the result is a crunchy yet satisfying side dish or snack strong enough to scoop up anything on your plate.

Plantain chips- Becoming increasingly popular, a great alternative to potato chips. These are thin, crispy- whether store bought or homemade.

There really are countless ways to eat a plantain, and I'm sure as soon as I post this more will come to mind.

Look out - I'll be adding recipes for each of these. You owe it to yourself to give them a shot.