Tostones: a 2 ingredient recipe

I tried a new recipe this afternoon from allrecipes.com, and for once I did not change it one bit. Normally, I only post things that I have created or altered, but this recipe is such a perfect example of a simple food. I love simple foods, because they are easy to prepare, and usually inexpensive, since they have few ingredients.

Tostones are basically fried plantains, and they are a staple (i.e. common or basic) food in Central and South America where plantains are common. They are served frequently with meals, much like Americans frequently serve mashed potatoes.

Plantains look a lot like bananas, but there are significant differences in taste. Plantains are usually not sweet until they are almost completely black. The tostones that I made today were from yellow plantains. They tasted like a cross between a green banana and a potato, and were not sweet at all. Here's the recipe.



Ingredients
1 plantain
oil for frying

Slice the plantain into chunks about 1 inch thick. Pour oil into a small skillet to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Heat the oil over medium high heat until hot. Place the plantain chunks into the oil and reduce heat to medium heat. Cook turning once or twice until light golden in color and softened somewhat. Remove from the oil. Using the bottom of a mug, flatten the plantain chunks to make patty shapes. You can also place the plantain pieces between sheets of wax paper and use your hand to flatten them. Return the patties to the oil and cook until dark golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with salt if desired, and serve.

It may not sound like much, but I had this for lunch, and I was full after eating just this one plantain. If I were to have this with a meal, I would only be able to eat 3-4 slices.

This was my first experience with plantains, and I will definitely explore them more in the future. Trying new foods prepared in new, yet simple, ways is how I continue to enjoy the creative process and enjoy the food.