Patacones (fried Plantain)

Total Time: 25 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 4 green plantains (do not use yellow, or yellowish green. it vastly changes the taste)
• vegetable oil
• salt

Recipe

• 1 peel plantain, and cut it width wise into 3 or 4 pieces.
• 2 i have found that the easiest way to peel the plantain is to cut roughly 1/4" off of each end of the plantain (the very tips), and then carefully, without cutting into the plantain itself, slicing the skin down one side.
• 3 once you have slit the skin on one side, you can gently pry the peel off with your fingers.
• 4 heat 1" of vegetable oil on medium heat until hot.
• 5 fry plantain pieces on both sides for about 3 minutes, or until the pieces are golden.
• 6 when they are golden, remove from pan and place onto a plate covered with a paper towel.
• 7 flatten the fried plantain.
• 8 i do this by placing the pieces one at a time between 2 pieces of waxed paper, and flattening with my hands.
• 9 be careful not to put too much pressure, or the plantain will stick to the waxed paper.
• 10 just gently flatten them till they are about 1/4" thick.
• 11 place in the hot oil again and fry until both sides are golden brown.
• 12 drain on paper towel covered plate (be sure to change paper towels in between the 2 fryings) and sprinkle with salt.
• 13 serve immediately.
• 14 for an extra special treat, eat the patacones with a thin slice of queso blanco (salty cheese) on top.