Plantains (plátanos in Spanish) look like large bananas. They are technically fruits, but much like the tomato and unlike the banana, they are eaten and cooked as if they were a vegetable. Harder to peel (especially when green) than bananas, plantains cannot be eaten raw.

A staple dish throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, tostones are crisp, flattened plantains that are often served as appetizers and side dishes. Unlike sweet maduros, which are made with very ripe, almost black, yellow plantains, savory tostones are made with unripe green plantains.

Cooked plantains are nutritionally very similar to a potato, calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They’re a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium. This hidden superfood warrants a trip your local grocery. Read on to learn why.

Tostones are a famous side dish in many Latin American countries, but its country of origin is unknown. This recipe originated from the Dominican Republic. The name Tostones comes from the word Tostón, which was the name of the Spanish currency used during the colonial period.

Some people are familiar with fried plantains, but not a lot of people know that Bananas can be fried. Yes, bananas can be fried, and they can be quite addictive if done right.

Ripe plantains are sweet like a banana, without the banana flavor. They can be eaten raw but are best when fried.

They are much harder than bananas are, and when they are green they will not have much of a taste. As they ripen, however, and turn from green to yellow and finally to black, they will become sweeter and will begin to taste more like a bananas, especially when used in baked goods.

They both provide a healthy source of complex carbohydrates. Plantains contain roughly 31 grams of carbs per 100-gram serving, while bananas contain about 23 grams….They’re Both Very Nutritious.

They may be eaten ripe or unripe and are generally starchy. Many cooking bananas are referred to as plantains (/ˈplæntɪn/ US: /plænˈteɪn/, UK: /ˈplɑːntɪn/) or green bananas, although not all of them are true plantains.

On maturity, bananas are yellow and about 6-inch long, whereas plantains are green or black and approximately 12-inch long. The main physical difference between plantains and greens bananas is that plantains have narrow and elongated ends that seem pointy, whereas green bananas have short, rounded ends.

Plantains are a carb-rich food and a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They also contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. With good levels of vitamin C, they can also support immune function. Likewise, their vitamin B6 content may reduce cardiovascular risk and improve mood.

Green bananas are used to make salads, just as you would make a potato salad. You can also make pies with them, such as a shepherd’s pie. There’s even a delicious pickled banana dish that’s popular in the islands.

Great plantain seems to be safe when taken by mouth by most adults. But it may cause some side effects including diarrhea and low blood pressure. It might be UNSAFE to apply great plantain to the skin. It can cause allergic skin reactions.

Risks. Plantains are healthy. But they’re less so when you cook them with a lot of oil, fat, or sugar. High-fat, high-salt, or high-sugar foods can raise your risk of weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, or cancer.

The major constituents in plantain are mucilage, iridoid glycosides (particularly aucubin), and tannins. Together these constituents are thought to give plantain mild anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihemorrhagic, and expectorant actions.

Fried Means Fat Fried plantains are very high in fat. A 1-cup serving of fried plantains provides 14 grams of total fats, 4.4 grams of saturated fats, 5.1 grams of monounsaturated fats and 3.2 grams of polyunsaturated fats.

How to serve fried plantains

• -It can also be served as a snack.
• -It can also be served along with omelet as a full meal.
• -In Central America and the Caribbean.
• -In Africa, dishes like Jollof rice, stewed beans, Fried rice, Fried or Scrambled Eggs, white rice, and many more are often accompanied by fried sweet plantains.

It is good to fry ripe plantain, and it is quite tasty and satisfying, as you already know. However, the dangers associated with frying ripe plantains are hinged on the oil used. When fried with unhealthy oil, fried plantains become harmful to consume.