Platanos maduros or sweet plantains are one of my favorite side dishes to accompany tacos or rice. My father compared the flavor to hot pancakes, a comparison that I never realized, but one that makes perfect sense. I had always thought of plantains as more of a cross between a banana and sweet potato.
A great source of fiber and carbohydrates, plantains are naturally healthy. But, they become not so healthy when fried in oil. The solution to this problem is none other than the air fryer. Air fried plantains maintain the same sweetness, richness, and caramelization as traditional fried plantains without added fat.
The key to achieving a sweeter, softer plantain is patience. After buying them green or yellow from your local Asian or Latin market, plantains need at least a few days to over a week to ripen. The ripening process can be sped up by placing the plantains in a paper bag with a banana or apple. The paper bag traps and concentrates ethylene gas, helping to speed up ripening.
Air Fried Sweet Plantains (Platanos Maduros)
8
servings5
minutes12
minutes110
kcalIngredients
4 ripe plantains
oil spray
sea salt
Directions
- Cut off ends of plantains, cut a slit down the peel, and gently remove the peel.
- Cut into 1/2″ “pennies,” on a diagonal.
- Place plantain slices in air fryer basket in one single layer to ensure even cooking.
- Spray with oil.
- Air fry at 390ºF for 5 minutes before flipping plantain slices.
- Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes at 390ºF.
- Remove, salt, and enjoy.
