Each country’s food comes from a compound of culinary traditions based on different regions of their country. Colombian cuisine is a mix of indigenous Colombian, Spanish and African cuisines, it also has a slight Arab influence. What is a Tostones? A Tostones is a unripe plantain that is fried, flattened and fried again also known as twice fried. It is then sprinkled with salt and topped with a savory and salty cheese.

While in quarantine, my daughters boyfriend from Brooklyn was staying with us. As you can imagine, we have all been spending a great deal of time in the kitchen playing with different recipes and exploring different regions of the world. Today, Mike exposed us to the glory of the green plantain which we then turned into Tostones. This is a great cooking project to make with children, it is fast and easy, with a fun hands-on experience. Mike has deep memories of his mother making them for breakfast (they pair well with the yolk of the egg) or it was used as an side starch dish to any everyday meal. In my option there really is not a wrong time for Tostones. They kind of remind me of a potato chip, they are gluten free and vegetarian. So, it is a win, win!

Plantains are readily available at most grocery stores and the plantain smasher can be purchased on amazon.

Tostones Fried Plantains

Print Recipe
Serves: 6 people Cooking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups of Vegetable or Corn oil
  • 2 Plantains
  • Salt to taste
  • Salty Cheese to Taste

Instructions

1

Cut the ends of the plantain and slice the skin down the middle and remove the fruit from the skin

2

Slice plantains on a angle 3/4 inch thick

3

Heat oil

4

Fry them for 4 mins until golden brown on each side

5

Remove and place on paper towel to absorb excess oil

6

Place them on plantain smasher or smash the plantain on a flat surface

7

After you smash them re-fry until golden brown

8

Place again on paper towel to absorb oil

9

Plate and sprinkle salt and cheese

Notes

It is important to cut the plantains on a angle to help with the smashing process, it makes the technic much easier It is a great cooking project for the family I would plate this on a colorful plate and make sure to sprinkle the cheese on the edge and top with cilantro.

Cut the ends and slice down the skin and remove the fruit from the skin
Cut on a angle
Use the smasher or use a plate on a flat surface
Fry until golden brown
Sprinkle with sea salt and a savory salty cheese
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