This fried ripe plantains recipe is easy to make and requires only three ingredients. These fried plantains can be eaten as a snack, a side dish, and/or as a main meal.

Fried plantains dishes can be found in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Africa, and other parts of the world. I grew up eating plantains in many forms, and my favorites are fried plantain and roasted ripe plantain served with roasted peanuts. Today I want to share this simple recipe because anytime I’m checking out plantains at a grocery store, people will ask me how I cook them. I hope you will try this recipe, and when you do, please let me know in the comment section below.
Facts About Plantains
Plantains are a member of the banana family. Unlike a banana, plantains are starchy and must be cooked before eating. As a plantain ripens, its starches are converted to natural sugars, resulting in a sweeter taste. Frying a fully ripe plantain quickly in oil coaxes all the sugar to the surface, where it’s caramelized. This creates a delicious chip that’s simultaneously crisp and sweet. After the first taste, you’ll realize why this is one of the best ways to eat plantain (Source: Wiki and The spruce eat)
Difference between Plantains and Bananas
Plantains contain more starch and fewer natural sugars than bananas, especially when unripped.
Different regions or cultures use more unripe plantains for cooking than unripe bananas. While bananas are usually not eaten before ripening, you can use unripe bananas in recipes that call for unripe plantains.
Both plantains and bananas should not be consumed in the raw unripe stage. Plantains should be cooked, and bananas should be consumed when ripe.
Watch how to make Fried Plantains (Video)
Selecting the Best Plantains for Frying
With this fried plantains recipe, you will never go wrong if you select the best-ripe plantains. When choosing plantains, select the bright yellow plantains for firmer fried plantains. You will have soft fried plantains if you choose the over-ripe plantains or those with dark skin.
How Ripe Should Plantains For Frying?
How ripe the plantains should be are depended on how soft or firm you want your fried plantains. Ripe plantains with dark spot but firm to the touch is the perfect stage for frying. It is good for plantain pancakes and kakro (plantain fritters) when they turn very dark.
Should You Soak Plantains Before Frying?
The short answer is no! Do not soak ripe plantains in water before frying. Soaking them in water will make the plantains soft and mushy.
You can soak green or unripe plantains in water before and after cooking (boiling) to maintain moisture, especially when making ampesi (boiled unripe plantains)
Another recipe for soaking plantains in water is Tostones. Tostones are twice-fried plantain slices commonly found in Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. These fried plantains are soaked before they are fried for the second time. Soaking them in salt water gives them a nice crunchy outside and moist tender inside.
Ingredients for Making Fried Plantains
- Ripe plantains
- Salt to season
- Oil for frying
- Optional: white or black pepper
How to Make Fried Sweet Plantains
Peel plantains by cutting off both ends and slit down the side of each plantain. Remove the plantain peel by peeling it from one side to the other.
Cut the peeled plantains into 1/4-inch-thick slices and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. If using white pepper or black pepper, add them now.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Plantains can be deep-fried or shallow-fried, depending on what you prefer. Deep frying is the best when using firmer ripe plantains, and shallow frying is good for very ripped plantains.
When the oil begins to shimmer but not smoke, add plantains (work in batches). Fry for 2- 3 minutes on one side, flip, and cook for 2 minutes on the other side until golden brown. Remove plantains from the pan and drain on paper towels.
How to Serve Fried Plantains
Serve fried plantains with red bean stew, called red-red in Ghana. You can also serve them as a snack to go with roasted peanuts. Serve fried plantains with jollof rice (recipe coming soon).
Other Recipes You May Like
- South African Coconut Biscuit
- Ghanaian Cake
- Puff Puff / Bofrot
- Digestive Biscuits
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Thanks for reading. As always, know that God loves you, and stay blessed!
Happy Baking
Linda!
Fried Plantains
Equipment
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 3 whole ripe plantains
- ½ teaspoon salt to season
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- ¼ teaspoon white or black pepper optional
Instructions
- Peel plantains by cutting off both ends and slit down the side of each plantain.
- Remove the plantain peel by peeling it from one side to the other.
- Cut the peeled plantains into 1/4-inch-thick slices and sprinkle lightly with sea salt. If using white pepper or black pepper add them now.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Plantains can be deep-fried or shallow-fried depending on what you prefer. When using firmer ripe plantains, deep frying is the best, and shallow frying is good for very ripped plantains.
- When the oil begins to shimmer, but not smoke, add plantains (work in batches). Fry for 2- 3 minutes on one side, flip, and cook for 2 minutes on the other side until golden brown. Remove plantains from the pan and drain on paper towels.
- serve and enjoy
This is one of the easiest recipe to make and they taste delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your feedback.