When Steve played with the Mets in Florida, he fell in love
with Sweet Plantains. See, there are a
lot of Dominicans in the Mets organization {really in baseball overall}. Because of this, there was always rice,
beans, and plantains for lunch and dinner during Spring Training. There was a point where Steve got sick of
rice and beans, but he never stopped liking the plantains. I mean, how could he? It’s a plantain sautéed in butter and
sugar. It’s dessert that you’re able to
eat with your meal.
This recipe is super simple and can be enjoyed at any time
during the day. It would be great as a
side dish with your lunch or dinner, or can be served as dessert with some ice
cream or whipped cream.
If you've never had, or heard of, a plantain before, they look similar to a banana. Except plantains are ripe and ready to eat when they are black. Plantains are more starchy than bananas, and are rarely eaten raw. You really need to cook them to get the most out of their flavor. Plantains are a staple food in areas such as Latin America and Mexico, and are pretty much eaten every day with every meal.
To make the sweet plantains, all you need are plantains,
butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. The vanilla and the cinnamon aren’t
necessary, but I think they add an extra sweetness and flavor. Feel free to play around with quantities with
the ingredients, adding and taking any away to satisfy your own taste.
Enjoy!
Sweet Plantains
For Printable Recipe, Click here!
Serves: About 4
People
2 Large, Ripe Plantains, Cut into bite-size pieces
4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
½ teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
Pinch Cinnamon
Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the plantains and sauté until they have
softened and turn golden brown on both sides, about 5-7 minutes. Add the brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon
and toss the plantains. Continue
sautéing until the sugar has caramelized and the plantains are completely coated,
about 2 more minutes.
Serve immediately and enjoy!
These last up to 3 days in a sealed container in the
refrigerator. Re-heat them in a sauté
pan with a little bit of butter.
Recipe inspired by Tyler
Florence.
I loooooovvvve plantains! Fell in love with them when I lived in Costa Rica. They're great anytime of day! Mmm now I'm craving!
ReplyDeletemmmm! Look's gooey and tasty! I don't think I have every had one before but they sound like they would taste delicious with vanilla ice cream or possibly drizzled with caramel or chocolate!
ReplyDeleteFunny, I was just talking about plantains with someone the other day saying how I had never worked with them - this looks like a delicious way to start!
ReplyDeletelove plantains and make them when we're in Aruba. I love this recipe; butter and sugar and cinnamon. YUM!
ReplyDeleteSecond post this week I've seen on plantains and yours look wonderful too.
ReplyDeleteI have only had plantains once and they were great. But they didn't look nearly as good as these, yum!
ReplyDeleteKhrissy, I just looooove plantains. I had them friend in Miami earlier this year. I love the addition of cinnamon. I'm a cinnamon + sugar fiend!
ReplyDeleteMy Puerto Rican grandmother would be turning in her grave at the addition of sugar- she always said that it was like pouring captain morgan into a nice bacardi.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, if anyone wants to stay a bit healthier, they can be done in oil or butter, and if the plantains are appropriately ripe, they won't need any sugar at all. Pan caramelization... yum!
These do look delicious for a dessert... maybe on some sweet coffee ice cream or in a crepe. omnomnom.
I love plantains and order entree out based on them, but have never made them at home. I can't believe how easy and delicious this looks!! Thank you for demystifying Plantains! I can't wait to make them now!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting twist on Plantains. My wife makes a more Latin version (http://feedyourfussyeater.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/tostones-recipe/). I've been looking for a way to kick them up a little and cinnamon and sugar seems like a great way since I love sweets and cinnamon (http://feedyourfussyeater.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/cinnamon-takes-a-back-seat-to-no-babka/)
ReplyDeleteI was a bit skeptical of a sweet plantain, but because I had seen this, I decided to try something new with leftover ingredients from another recipe. I was making Honey Glazed Roasted Carrots and used the leftover honey mix to dip the plantain in. To my surprise, it was actually pretty good. Now I definitely have to try this recipe.
ReplyDeletewould it work if plantains were substituted with bananas?
ReplyDeleteMaking these tonight for Noche Buena. Can't wait to try them as I don't typically like sweet plantains but these look too delicious to pass up!
ReplyDelete