Haitian Fried Green Plantains (Bannann Peze)
Plantains are a staple in pretty much every Haitian meal. The most common method of cooking plantains is frying them which can be served as an appetizer or a side dish.
Tonight I mixed some traditional foodstuffs from many cultures on my plate. Fried Plantain like they are done in Haiti. However I do not have a Plantain Press like there so I used a Tacopress like in the Mexican kitchen. I also made Mashed Rutabaga Dippers. Rutabaga is used in a variety of ways in Sweden and Norway. I had some Mashed Rutabaga leftover from dinner the other night. I never made Dippers before. It really turned out great. I also had some Swedish Meatballs I made for Christmas, some slices Beefsteak and a special Swedish sausage named ”Prinskorv”. I had some Hot Sauce in the freezer which I made some time ago when making Buffalo Chicken Wings. A quite International plate that tasted so great. I made all in the airfryer. I love I can fry now and no greasy oil, just a little spray.
In Haiti fried plantains are usually served with other fried meats such as pork, chicken and goat. Here is a basic recipe for fried plantain. Recipe for Mashed Rutabaga Dippers, Swedish Meatballs and Hot Sauce is to be found on my website as well.
Ingredients:
- 3 Green Plantains
- 1 tablespoon(s) Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon(s) Salt
- 1 teaspoon(s) Garlic Powder
- 1 cup(s) Vegetable Oil (if you fry in oil. If in airfryer spray with some oil)
- 1 Tostonera (Plantain Press)
- 1 cup(s) Hot Water
Instructions:
Set heat on airfryer to 180 Celsius degrees. If using oil in a pan: Heat Oil on medium high heat in a deep fryer or frying pan.
Peel plantains and angle cut each one into equal pieces.
In a bowl add the hot water, vinegar, salt and set aside.
Lightly brown the plantains in the airfryer or in the oil in a pan (Approximately 5 min). Turn after half time.
Remove the plantains from the airfryer or oil and flatten each plantain using a press. In Haiti it is called a tostonera. If you don´t have a plaintain press you can use a plate, or like me a Taco press.
Soak the flattened plantains in the hot water and place carefully back in the airfryer or oil for an additional 5 min.
Remove plantains from the airfryer or oil and place them on a paper towel.
Serve hot!
As you see it is a big difference using the airfryer and frying in oil.
This is what a plaintain press looks like. There are so many different kinds. This is the most simple one, Who would have known there is a whole world out there with so many delicious and fancy dishes where you use the plaintain. Here I just made the most simple one. And as varied as the dishes are also the presses in the Caribbean.
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