Patacones Recipe: Twice-Fried Plantain With Aji Sauce

Fried Green Plantain with Aji Dipping Sauce
Marian Blazes
Prep: 60 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 80 mins
Servings: 6 servings

Patacones (known as tostones in Central America) are twice-fried rounds of green plantain. Fried green plantain (plátano verde) is a starchy and sweet snack and they work great as an appetizer as well.

This recipe is easy to follow, though you will want to begin about an hour before you intend to serve them because the plantains need to soak. While you're waiting, prepare a fresh aji Amarillo sauce if you don't already have one. This creamy chili pepper sauce is the perfect dip for your patacones.

Ingredients

  • 3 medium green plantains, unpeeled

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste

  • 4 cups water, or amount to cover plantains

  • 2 /3 cup vegetable oil

Steps to Make It

Plantains become sweeter and less starchy as they ripen, but they also lose their firmness. That is not ideal for this recipe. You'll find it best to use plantains that are still green and just starting to ripen, showing a touch of yellow on the skin. 

  1. Slice the ends off of each plantain, then slice the unpeeled plantains crosswise into 1 1/2-inch wide circles.

  2. Place the plantain slices in a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 4 cups water to soak for 1 hour.

  3. After soaking, peel the plantain slices. If the peel does not come off easily, make a slit through the skin with a sharp knife, then peel it off. Place the peeled plantain slices on paper towels and pat dry.

  4. In a heavy skillet, heat 1 to 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350 F.

  5. Place plantain slices in the oil and cook until golden (the plantain should sizzle gently). Work in batches if necessary and drain on paper towels.

  6. Use the bottom of a glass or bottle to flatten the slices of plantain into disks about 1/3- to 1/2-inch thick.

  7. Return flattened plantains to the hot oil and fry until a deep golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and sprinkle generously with kosher salt.

  8. Serve plantain warm with aji sauce for dipping.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
491 Calories
25g Fat
74g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 491
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 399mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 74g 27%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Total Sugars 33g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 26mg 130%
Calcium 5mg 0%
Iron 1mg 8%
Potassium 1107mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)