Patacones Ticos (costa Rican Fried Plantains)

Total Time: 22 mins Preparation Time: 7 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 green plantains
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 pinch salt, to taste

Recipe

• 1 peel plantains completely.
• 2 slice plantains into 1/2 inch rounds.
• 3 heat oil in sauce pan until almost boiling.
• 4 carefully place a handful of plantain rounds into hot oil, leaving them in until light brown, about 2 minutes.
• 5 carefully remove plantain rounds from hot oil with slotted spoon (preferably metal) and place on a cutting board covered in parchment paper.
• 6 plantain pieces should be on only half of the parchment paper. fold second half of parchment paper over them, and with a second board or other hard, flat surface press firmly on the paper-covered plantain rounds.
• 7 the rounds should now be smushed-looking, yet still intact.
• 8 *this can also be done using a metal tortilla press, if available. what i use is like a tortilla press, but is specifically designed for patacones, and i bought it at a supermarket in costa rica.
• 9 with slotted spoon, replace pieces of plantain in the oil until golden brown.
• 10 remove pieces with slotted spoon and place on paper towel. pieces should be slightly crispy.
• 11 repeat with another handful of rounds, until all have been cooked.
• 12 sprinkle with salt, to taste.
• 13 dip in warm refried beans, or also good with ceviche.