What Are Tostones?

If you are a big fan of Latin American dishes with a hint of Caribbean cuisine, you should try the delicious and nutritious tostones! These crunchy fried plantain chips can be eaten as an appetizer or snack. They are also perfect for dipping in salsa, guacamole, or any other type of sauce that you like.

Tostone’s name came from the Spanish word “tostar,” which means to toast. Frying slices of ripe plantains makes the tostones until they become crispy on the outside while still soft inside. They are usually served alongside rice and beans but can also be enjoyed alone as a healthy snack.

If you are wondering what to do with tostones, you can use them as a side dish at your next dinner party. You can serve them with grilled meats, fish, chicken, or seafood. Or, if you want something more substantial, you can add some cheese, eggs, or avocado to make it a complete meal.

Many different types of tostones are available in stores all over Latin America. Some of these include:

– Toasted Plantain Chips – Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these chips are great for snacking on.

– Fried Plantain Fritters – A bit thicker than tostones, these fritters have a crispier exterior and softer interior. They are often served as part of a traditional Cuban breakfast.

– Deep-Fried Plantain Nuggets – Similar to tostones, these nuggets are deep-fried until golden brown. They are usually served as a snack or appetizer.

– Fried Plantain Pieces – This is probably one of the most common ways to enjoy tostones. It is similar to making French fries, except you use plantains instead of potatoes.

– Fried Plantaine Balls – These balls are more petite than tostones and slightly less crispy. They are typically served as a snack or dessert.

– Baked Plantain Chips – Instead of being fried, baked style of plantains are used to create this chip. They are often served with ice cream or chocolate syrup.

– Boiled Plantain Chips – These chips are boiled before being fried. They are usually served with ice cream or milk.

– Roasted Plantain Chips – These roasted crispy plantain chips are not only delicious, but they are also healthier than their fried counterparts. They are usually served at parties or special occasions.

What are the benefits of eating tostones?

There are several health benefits associated with eating tostones. They contain high potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. In addition, they are low in calories and fat.

The best thing about tostones is that they are easy

Tostones With Avocado Cream Sauce Recipe

Tostone is excellent to pair with many sauces, dips, and side dishes. But the most popular way to enjoy tostones is to dip them into a creamy avocado sauce. Here is how to make this recipe:

Ingredients

• One large ripe plantain (about 1 pound)
• Cloves of garlic
• Two tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Avocado Cream Sauce

The ingredients for the avocado cream sauce are:

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Slice the plantain lengthwise into four equal pieces. Cut each piece into three strips. Then cut each strip into two triangles. Then, soak the plantains in garlic water or garlic mixture.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the plantain slices onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper—Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the pieces over and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.

To prepare the avocado cream sauce, combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Serve with crispy garlic tostones. These garlic pieces will surely be delicious to eat as a snack and paired with the garlic-style sauce.

Make The Tostones

When making simple garlic tostones, it’s important to note that the plantain should be sliced very thin. If the slices are too thick, they will become soggy when dipped in the batter.

Place the plantain slices on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice the plantain into long strips. Make sure to keep your knife parallel to the cutting board. Slice the plantain strips into triangles. You can either do this by hand or using a mandolin slicer.

Place the plantain slices into a shallow dish. Add enough flour so that the plantain slices are coated evenly. Shake off any excess flour. Repeat this step twice more.

Whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and cornstarch in a separate shallow dish.

Add the remaining ingredients to a medium pot. Cook over medium heat until the mixture starts bubbling. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 5 minutes.

Remove the pot from the stove. Pour the egg mixture into the pool. Stir constantly until the mixture begins to thicken. This takes about 15 seconds.

Add the plantain slices to the pan. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook the plantain slices for about 30 seconds per side. Remove from the heat and serve immediately. You can put the variation for garlic tostones in a dry paper towel and let it cool.

Enjoy!

Air Fryer Method

You might not know this, but you can make these crispy chips without using an oven. Instead, you can use an air fryer. To make this recipe, follow the instructions below:

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut the plantain into small cubes. Spread out the cubes on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Spray the plantain cubes with cooking spray.

Cook the plantain cubes for 6 minutes. Flip the cubes over and cook for another 6 minutes.

Let the plantains cool completely before dipping them into the batter. Enjoy!

Garlic Tostones: Puerto Rican Fried Plantains with Rice and Beans

To give you a head start in making tostones, this recipe is made with rice and beans. It’s also gluten free.

Description

Garlic tostones originates from Puerto Rico. They’re fried plantains covered in a creamy garlic sauce. They’re usually served with rice and beans.

Puerto Ricans would prepare this dish for special occasions like birthdays and holidays.The reason why we call this dish “tostones” is because of its shape. It resembles a potato chip.

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 1 cup white rice
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 large ripe plantains

Instructions

1. To make the rice, combine the rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. While the rice cooks, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the bell peppers and saute for 3 minutes.

3. Transfer the cooked rice to a bowl. Add the bell peppers, black beans, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, coriander, paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Mix well. Set aside.

4. Preheat the oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

5. Cut each plantain lengthwise into 4 wedges. Place the wedges cut side down on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

6. Heat the vegetable oil in a deep frying pan over high heat. When the oil starts smoking, carefully add the plantains. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes. Carefully flip the plantains over and continue to cook for 2 more minutes.

7. Remove the plantains from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle the plantains with salt. Serve immediately with the rice mixture.

Recipe Notes

• If you don’t have a deep-fry thermometer, you can test if the oil has reached 375°F by dropping a piece of bread into it. If the bread browns within 30 seconds, then your oil is ready.

• You can substitute any type of bean for the black beans. Try pinto beans, kidney beans, or even refried beans.

• This dish is best eaten right away after cooking. The flavors will only get better as they sit.

Faqs
Can I Freeze Tostones?

Yes, tostones can be pre-made and frozen. Place the tostones in a freezer-safe container. When ready to serve, remove the tostones from the freezer and let them defrost at room temperature.

Some storage tips for tostones if you decide to keep them in a freezer are:

• Store tostones in a single layer.

• Do not stack tostones.

• Wrap tostones tightly in plastic wrap.

• Label the package with the date of preparation.

Can I Use Yellow Plantains To Make Tostones?

Yes, you can use yellow plantains to make crispy tostones. You can choose between white and yellow plants, depending on your preference. Some people use white plantains if they want their tostones to have a mild flavor. Others like the taste of yellow plantains better because they’re sweeter than white ones.

Green plantains also work well as a substitute for regular plantain skin. They tend to be slightly less sweet than common plantains. Again, the colors of plantains you can use will depend on your preference.

Can I Make Tostones In An Air Fryer

Definitely! If you’re on the go and don’t have time to bake or boil tostones, you can always try making them in an air fryer. Tostones are easy to make in an air fryer because all you need is plantain planks, oil, salt mixture (ground sea salt or tspKosher salt), and pepper. It also takes about 2-3 minutes of prep time to achieve the golden color.

How Do I Reheat Them?

When reheating tostones, you will need to add oil to the pan. The amount of oil required depends on how many tostones you make. For example, if you drove ten tostones, you’ll only need 1/2 cup of oil.

To reheat the tostones, pour the oil into the pan. Heat the oil over medium heat for 3 minutes. Then turn down the heat to low. Once the oil has heated, carefully add the tostones to the pan. They should sizzle when added to the hot oil.

Once the tostones are cooked through, remove them from the pan and let them cool off. Serve as soon as possible.