Air Fryer Tostones Recipe

Meals is known for dragging us down reminiscence lane. All the way through our first date (which was once at my space), I cooked tostones–twice-fried, mashed plantains–for the person who would change into my husband.

Whilst slicing the plantains, I realized out of my outer edge he was once status on the threshold of my tiny kitchen simply observing me. Considering he was once plotting to assault me; I grasped the knife I used to be the usage of slightly tighter and requested if the whole lot was once ok.

“You glance identical to my grandmother doing that,” he mentioned.

Years later he informed me that was once the instant he knew he was once going to marry me.

What Are Tostones?

Tostones (sometimes called patacones in some Latin American nations) are comforting to those that grew up consuming them. Similar to North American potato chips, tostones are inexperienced (underripe) plantains which have been fried till they’re cushy, then mashed and refried.

They’re principally a snack meals and are repeatedly served as an accompaniment or appetizer to a heavier meal or loved by means of schoolchildren as a day snack.

What Are Plantains?

Plantains are quite a lot of banana that will have to be cooked as a result of the quantity of starch they comprise. Like bananas, inexperienced plantains are unripe and yellow plantains are ripe. In contrast to a banana, plantains of their raw state are slimy and devoid of taste; consuming a uncooked plantain is like consuming arduous paste. It’s now not a lovely sight or taste.

Underripe, inexperienced plantains are extra like potatoes than bananas: top starch, low sugar . Which means that bananas can’t stand in for plantains as a result of their upper sugar content material. They only received’t dangle in combination for this recipe. (And plantains can’t stand in for the bananas for your Aunt Ethel’s well-known banana pudding recipe as a result of how bland and fibrous they’re.)

When unsure simply bear in mind: The plantains want to be cooked.

The way to Select and Peel a Plantain

The plantains used for tostones must be a verdant inexperienced in colour and will have to be very company. Keep away from plantains with a large number of yellow within the peel as they have got already began to ripen and can style sweeter.

Peeling a inexperienced plantain is simple. Bring to a halt each ends of the plantain sooner than scoring the peel down the “again” of the plantain. Use the fleshy portions of your thumbs to take away the plantain’s fibrous peel.

The way to Make Tostones within the Air Fryer

Tostones are historically pan-fried, however I’ve began air-frying them (a lot to my physician’s satisfaction). It cuts down at the fats and the mess (no oil splatters) however nonetheless yields crispy tostones.

If you desire to fry yours, it’s only a topic of finishing each and every of the frying steps the usage of vegetable oil heated to 375°F. You’ll want to drain your tostones on paper towels after each and every frying consultation.

The way to Flatten Tostones

Maximum Latin American houses have no less than one tostonera of their kitchens. This instrument is used to flatten the softened items of plantain. Tostoneras are used nearly completely for making tostones and, in many houses, steadily double as wall artwork.

Despite the fact that tostoneras are rather affordable, should you don’t make tostones regularly, it will not be prudent to buy one. Putting your cushy plantain between a work of parchment paper (or a brown paper bag) and smashing it with a espresso mug will accomplish the similar consequence.

What to Serve With Tostones?

A dipping sauce made from mayonnaise and ketchup identified colloquially as “mayoketchu” is the preferred condiment to serve with tostones. Some other folks additionally revel in a warmed garlic oil referred to as ajillo. It’s made by means of combining two cloves of minced garlic, a pinch of salt and 1 / 4 cup of warmed olive oil. Garlic oil isn’t used as steadily for the reason that taste can also be slightly sturdy.

Make Forward Pointers for Tostones

Tostones are cooked in two levels: the par-fry which is adopted by means of the overall “crisping” fry.

The primary fry can also be finished prematurely, which is helping should you plan to make so much to serve to a bigger crowd. To handle the tostones crispness, the overall fry must be finished simply previous to serving them.

If buddies are overdue to the celebration, and you wish to have to stay the tostones heat position them on a baking sheet in a 175°F oven.

Storing and Freezing Tostones

Leftover tostones could also be saved in a meals container within the refrigerator for twenty-four hours and reheated in a 350°F level oven till warmed thru or refried within the air fryer for two to a few mins at 350°F.

The standard and crispness can be considerably reduced, despite the fact that, so I like to recommend most effective making what you intend to consume the similar day.

If you wish to have tostones readily available for the ones last-minute cravings, flatten the fried plantains and make allowance them to chill utterly. Seal them in a freezer garage bag for as much as two months. Thaw them utterly sooner than frying the overall time within the air fryer.

Want Extra Snack Concepts?