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Fried sweet plantains or "maduros" are a common Puerto Rican side dish that adds a touch of sweetness to an otherwise savory dish.
Growing up, we had this at the dinner table just about every evening, along with rice, stewed beans, and a few slices of ripe avocado. However, don’t feel the need to restrict how or when to serve fried sweet plantains.
They can be served with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Or as a good ol’ mid-day snack.
Where To Find Plantains
Plantains are a popular food item and I have seen them being sold at plenty of big-box grocery stores. They are sold both ripe (yellow + black spotted) or unripe (green).
You can purchase them in either state. The yellow and black-spotted banana will be ripe enough for fried sweet plantains.
Additionally, plantains can be found at Latin grocery stores in the produce section.
In the good old neighborhood of Little Havana, Miami, plantains are sold at many small, family-owned grocery stores or on the back of a fruit truck or cart.
If you pick up green plantain bananas, you’ll need to wait until they are ripe enough before using them in this recipe.
When Are Plantains Ripe Enough
We are using just 3 ingredients for this fried sweet plantain recipe and there’s something you need to know about one of those items.
You need very ripe plantains.
Similar to common yellow bananas, you can tell when a plantain has ripened when it becomes spotted and mostly black.
As the plantain ripens, it becomes sweeter and softer - making them the perfect candidate for sweet plantains, or maduros.
If your plantains are not yet mostly black and soft, you’ll have a starchy and slightly sweet plantain.
In my opinion, you are better off waiting until the plantains are ripe enough for fried sweet plantains, or grab them when they are green for a savory plantain dish like tostones.
Best Oil For Frying Plantains
For pan-frying over medium heat, you want to go with a medium or high-smoke point oil. Smoke point determines at what temperature the oil begins to burn and smoke.
Oil or fats with low-smoke points that may not suitable for pan-frying (depending on the cooking heat) include cold-pressed olive oil, butter, walnut oil, or any unrefined oil.
Examples of High-Smoke Oil
- Safflower Oil (510 degrees F)
- Rice Bran Oil (490 degrees F)
- Soybean Oil (450 degrees F)
- Peanut Oil (450 degrees F)
- Vegetable Oil (450 degrees F)
In this recipe, I used canola oil. It has a high smoke point, it’s mild in flavor, and it’s an affordable cooking oil option. I do not recommend using olive oil in this recipe.
Because this recipe calls for very ripe plantains, the high sugar content makes them soft and sticky, making cooking a bit tricky. I highly recommend using a non-stick cooking pan to prevent sticking.
If you’re looking for an affordable non-stick cooking pan, check this one out from T-fal. I've had my set from this brand for years now and they still work great.
Pro-tip: to keep a non-stick pan working properly for a long time, do not use metal cooking utensils against the pan. Silicone or wood utensils are not as abrasive as metal cooking utensils, keeping the non-stick coating intact.
More Puerto Rican Recipes
- Puerto Rican Rice With Pigeon Peas
- Meatless Picadillo
- Rice With Beans (Arroz Con Habichuelas)
- Bean Stew (Habichuelas Guisadas)
- Vegan “Beef” Stew (Carne Guisada)
- Homemade Puerto Rican Sofrito (More about What Is Sofrito)
- Vegan Pastelón
Need an oil-free version of this recipe? Here’s how to make sweet plantains in the oven.
Puerto Rican Fried Sweet Plantains (Maduros)
Instructions
- Cut the ends of the plantains and slice the plantain vertically, just skin deep. Remove the peel from the plantain and cut it into 1-inch thick pieces.
- Set a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and pour in vegetable oil, at 1-inch deep
- Once the oil is hot carefully add the plantain pieces. Fry on each side over medium heat for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and cook plantains for another 4-5 minutes, flipping halfway
- Once done, remove from oil and transfer plantains onto a plate of paper towels. Sprinkle with salt while still hot.
Notes
- Some pieces will cook faster than others. It’s fine to pull them out at different times.
- Maduros or fried plantains work best when they are very ripe. This means waiting for the banana to turn yellow and then turn into a dark, black-spotted color.
Nutrition
Did you try out this Puerto Rican Fried Sweet Plantains (Maduros) recipe?
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Ann
Can I use coconut oil?
Aly Michell
Hey Ann! I reccommend using a high smoke point oil like peanut, avocado, or canola.