- Feb 7, 2004
- 11,088
- 2
- 81
I've been curious for 20 years what the heck was a plantain. I'd largely forgot about this mystery until I was shopping and once again noticed the banana like 'fruit'. . .
The price was right, 2/1$ - so I got one.
After getting home I was giddy to figure this whole thing out and googled it. It seems that a plantain is a 'starchy' fruit used much like a potato in much of the world. If you cook it green that is. You evidently can wait for it to turn black on the outside, and it will be 'sweet'.
I could not wait, so I found a recipe to prepare what is known as Patacones.
First came peeling the fruit. It is 'much' like a banana in the fact that you skin it. I cut the ends off and started to peel it. The inside looks much like a banana - but it was VERY firm, potato like. There was a very strong smell akin to the kind of smell you get with celery, but very different. That is best I could describe it. It was very tough to skin, and finally I freed the fruit from it's wrapper.
To prepare Patacones, you slice the fruit into 10 or so pieces. Rub the pieces with lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Heat some oil in a pan. Drop the pieces in and fry til they are golden brown on both sides. Take them out and drain on paper towel. Place them on a cutting board and 'smash' them flat. Return them to the oil and cook them till golden brown again. Drain, salt, and splash lime juice on them.
To be honest, they were kinda like potato pancakes if you've ever had those. It was really nothing special, almost like eating a crisp hashbrown with a weird buttery slightly banana taste (ever so slightly). They are very nutritious though, so I suppose that makes this a good thing. I don't think I'll get another.
Now I have satisfied my curiosity, and can go on knowing what exactly is a plantain.
here is what they look like
http://www.google.com/search?q...&rls=org.mozilla:en-US
The price was right, 2/1$ - so I got one.
After getting home I was giddy to figure this whole thing out and googled it. It seems that a plantain is a 'starchy' fruit used much like a potato in much of the world. If you cook it green that is. You evidently can wait for it to turn black on the outside, and it will be 'sweet'.
I could not wait, so I found a recipe to prepare what is known as Patacones.
First came peeling the fruit. It is 'much' like a banana in the fact that you skin it. I cut the ends off and started to peel it. The inside looks much like a banana - but it was VERY firm, potato like. There was a very strong smell akin to the kind of smell you get with celery, but very different. That is best I could describe it. It was very tough to skin, and finally I freed the fruit from it's wrapper.
To prepare Patacones, you slice the fruit into 10 or so pieces. Rub the pieces with lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Heat some oil in a pan. Drop the pieces in and fry til they are golden brown on both sides. Take them out and drain on paper towel. Place them on a cutting board and 'smash' them flat. Return them to the oil and cook them till golden brown again. Drain, salt, and splash lime juice on them.
To be honest, they were kinda like potato pancakes if you've ever had those. It was really nothing special, almost like eating a crisp hashbrown with a weird buttery slightly banana taste (ever so slightly). They are very nutritious though, so I suppose that makes this a good thing. I don't think I'll get another.
Now I have satisfied my curiosity, and can go on knowing what exactly is a plantain.
here is what they look like
http://www.google.com/search?q...&rls=org.mozilla:en-US
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