July 24, 2023, 8:53 am | Read time: 2 minutes
A recipe that requires only three ingredients and ten minutes? TRAVELBOOK reveals what might be the simplest recipe in the world: We’re making Plátanos fritos.
Plátanos fritos originate from Latin America and are eaten there as a side dish, main course, or snack. The fried bananas are often served with cheese—a combination that initially surprises. But after a taste test, we were convinced: Plátanos fritos with cheese taste great.
The fried bananas have many names. Besides Plátanos fritos, they are called “Patacones” in Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador, “Chatinos” in Cuba, and in the Caribbean, the dish is known as “Tostones.” The latter name comes from the Spanish word tostar, which means “to toast.” In the Caribbean, the fried bananas are served for breakfast. But the dish is also served at all other times of the day, sometimes as a side dish with meat, with beans, with sour cream, or ketchup.
Plátanos fritos probably taste even better in Latin America than our homemade version. This is because plantains are primarily used for the dish there. If you can’t find them in Germany, you can use overripe bananas instead. The darker the peel, the better.
Also interesting: Recipe for delicious empanadas like those from South America
Recipe for Plátanos fritos from Latin America
Ingredients (for one serving)
- 2 bananas
- neutral-flavored oil
- 25 grams of grated mozzarella
Preparation
- Peel the bananas and cut them diagonally into 5 mm thick slices.
- Heat oil in a pan until very hot and fry the banana pieces on both sides until golden brown.
- Let the oily banana pieces drain on a paper towel. Sprinkle with cheese and enjoy.
- For a creamy version with melted cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and cover the bananas with cheese. Then wait until the cheese has melted.
Enjoy your meal!