Fried Plantain

Plantain is found all over the Caribbean. Alternative Name: Plantain Banana.

When you buy your plantains, make sure the plantains are yellow ripe with dark spots. The more yellow the plantains are, the better they are for frying. Do not buy plantain with completely black skin as they are over ripe and may make you ill if fried.

Plantain is a green to yellow boat shaped fruit (shade of colour depends on the stage of ripening) and is a close relative of the banana. It looks like a banana, but is bigger, longer and has a thicker skin. Unlike bananas, plantain needs to be cooked before eaten.

Ingredients (SERVES 6):

3 plantains (ripe*) 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Wash the skins of the plantains in cold water to remove dirt.

2. Using a sharp knife, make an incision along the entire length of each plantain.

3. Slide your first finger along the incision and remove the skin.

4. Place the peeled plantain on a cutting board and cut it into 0.5 cm/1⁄4 inch pieces at a 45 degree angle.

5. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a frying pan, and then reduce the heat to medium.

6. Carefully place the pieces of one plantain into the warm oil.

7. Let the pieces fry until they turn light brown around the edges and then turn

8. Fry the plantain pieces for approximately 1 minute more.

9. Remove them from the frying pan and place on paper towel to remove