Fried Sweet Yellow Plantains Recipe

Fried to perfection are golden brown, sweet, yellow ripe plantains, a much try recipe.  Every bite of a fried, sweet, ripe plantain leaves you wanting more. In Jamaica, fried ripe plantain is a favourite go-to side dish and a great addition to sandwiches. Preparing fried, sweet, ripe plantains is a quick recipe for Jamaican meals. It is easy to make and goes well with any meal, so it is served with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So grab your frying pan and get ready to enjoy a delicious taste of the Caribbean!

How do you know if a plantain is ripe

When a plantain is unripe, it is green and is usually harvested at this stage to ripen. A green plantain can be left on a counter to ripen naturally. A fully matured green plantain can take 2-7 days to ripen. As the plantains begin to ripen, the green skin will start to turn yellow. Black spots will appear as they ripen, and the plantains will gradually turn black. When a plantain is ripe, it has a sweet flavour due to the starches turning into sugar. The sugar content increases as a plantain ripens, making sweet plantain high in sugar. Green plantains are not sweet.  As a plantain ripens, it becomes softer and will give a bit when you squeeze it. Ripe plantains can be eaten raw and last for up to a week at room temperature. Storing it in the fridge can extend its shelf life to two weeks. 

Ripe plantains are similar to bananas in their ripening process. However, they are not the same fruit.

What is the best way to eat ripe plantain

The best way to enjoy plantains depends on your taste preferences. Many people find the best way to enjoy plantains is by frying them. Frying ripe plantains takes only 2-3 minutes per side. Fried plantains are typically cooked in oil, making them a less healthy option for those monitoring their fat intake. To make ripe plantain recipes without oil, use an air fryer or have them baked. Baking ripe plantains takes about 10 minutes. Ripe plantains can also be grilled, and it takes about 10 minutes. Boiled plantain is also a popular option in Jamaica. Boiled ripe plantains will take about 15 minutes to cook.

How ripe should plantains be for frying

When selecting ripe plantains to fry, it’s best to go for those with yellow skin and black patches. These indicate that the fruit is fully mature and sweet. You can also choose yellow plantains that are not yet spotted, but they will not be as sweet. Green-yellow plantains can be served as fried plantain chips. Avoid completely black plantains, as they won’t fry well. They absorb a lot more oil and can become too soft and mushy when fried. However, blacker plantains are extremely sweet and almost sugary. These ripe plantains are best used for recipes, such as plantain fritters and plantain punch. 

Frying plantains involves peeling and slicing ripe plantains into desired shapes and then cooking them in hot oil. You may pan-fry ripe plantain for recipes or dishes, which is the Jamaican style. You can make fried ripe plantain in an air fryer if you want a healthier alternative. 

Easy fried sweet yellow plantains recipe

Using ripe plantain to create delicious and satisfying recipes is relatively easy. Use the following ingredients to make pan-fried sweet plantains, Jamaican style:

• Ripe Plantains: Plantains should be yellow with a few black spots on the skin, indicating that they are perfectly ripe and sweet.

• Cooking Oil: Neutral flavoured oil is recommended so as not to overpower the flavour of the plantain. Vegetable oil is a popular choice, but you can also use canola, corn, or sunflower oil.

• Salt: A pinch of salt elevates the natural flavour of plantains. Any type of salt works, including table salt, sea salt, or kosher salt.

How to make sweet plantains Jamaican-Style

1. Peel and slice plantain: Start by peeling the ripe plantains. Peel the plantains by making a shallow cut along the length of the skin and peeling it away. Then, slice the plantains into diagonal pieces. If you prefer, you can slice the plantains horizontally to create circular slices.

If you don’t want to fry a whole plantain, cut it in half before peeling it. Store the other half in the refrigerator.

2. Heat the oil: Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the plantain slices to the pan. Fry the plantain slices in batches and avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry them on each side until they are golden brown and caramelised.

3. Remove from oil: Remove the fried plantain slices onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. The riper the plantains, the more oil it will obsord when frying.

4. Add salt: Adding salt is optional. Fried ripe plantain is eaten with or without salt. Eat on it’s own or serve it on the side of your favourite meal.

What do you eat with fried sweet plantains

Fried sweet plantains can be a great addition to your sandwiches. It is quite popular in Jamaica to have an egg and plantain sandwich for breakfast. Another popular breakfast option is to eat them with saltfish fritters or fry dumplings. Enjoy fried sweet plantains with typical Jamaican lunch or dinner meals. These meals include ackee and saltfish, callaloo, oxtails, chicken, and fish, often served with rice and peas.

You may also try fried sweet yellow plantain with your favourite meals or recipes.

More Plantain recipes

• Plantain fritters
• Plantain chips

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