Can you fry bananas like plantains?

In this article, we will answer the question “Can you fry bananas like plantains?”, and how to make fried bananas?

Can you fry bananas like plantains?

Yes, you can fry bananas like plantains. It is preferred to use bananas that are a bit unripe for this purpose so frying does not make them fall apart. 

Plantains are generally preferred for frying because of their starchy texture and bland taste. Fried sweet bananas can be used for topping off homemade frozen yogurt, plain Greek yogurt, pancakes, and waffles.

How to make fried bananas?

Ingredients 

  • 4 Bananas
  • Salt optional
  • Vegetable oil enough to deep fry

Instructions

  1. Peel the bananas and cut them into ½ inch thick slices. Season the slices with some salt if you like the taste. 
  1. Fry the banana slices in hot oil over medium to high heat until golden brown.

Nutrition facts 

Calories 420 kcal
Carbohydrates 108 g
Proteins 5 g 
Fat 2 g 
Saturated fat 1 g 
Sodium 5 mg 
Potassium 1690 mg 
Fiber 12 g 
Sugar 58 g 
Vitamin A 302 IU
Vitamin C 41 mg 
Calcium 24 mg 
Iron 1 mg 

What is the difference between bananas and plantains?

Plantains are the starchy version of bananas and they are consumed after cooking. Most of the edible bananas that belong to the species of Musa balbisiana are starchy and are termed plantains. 

While those belonging to the Musa acuminata species have a sweet taste and are eaten raw. Unlike the sugary bananas that contain about 20% sugar, plantains only have 6% sugar. 

Ripe plantains are larger than sweet bananas, have a coarse texture that remains intact even after frying. Ripe sweet bananas are mushy and sweet. The taste and texture of ripe sweet bananas are not ideal for frying.

Which is better: Ripe or Unripe plantains?

Plantains are harvested at peak ripeness when they develop a yellow color with black spots. This is the ideal plantain for frying or cooking. 

The sweetness level of ripe and unripe plantains remains almost the same. But the unripe plantain will naturally take longer to cook and soften. 

Some people like to buy green unripe plantains and ripe them at home by packing them in a paper bag. Alternatively, you can refrigerate the unripe plantain for a few days till it turns yellow.

4 different ways to cook plantains 

Boil: This is the preferred cooking method for unripe bananas that have a very tough texture. Boil the peeled and cut plantains for about 15-30 minutes or until tender.

Roast: Wrap whole and unpeeled plantains in some foil and bake them in a preheated oven at 400℉ for about 40 minutes or until tender.

Grill: This method works best with ripe plantains. Cut the peeled plantains in half, lengthwise. Then grill the plantains with the cut side down. It takes a total of 30 minutes, 15 minutes on each side. Braise each side of the plantain with some butter and brown sugar to make it rich and sweet.

Fry: Thin fried unripe plantains or smashed and twice-fried ripe plantains are a famous dessert in many parts of the world. 

Tostones: This famous plantain dish is known by the name of bannann peze in Haiti. Tostones undergo double frying. The first frying renders the ripe or unripe plantains soft. These soft and fried plantains are smashed and fried again until they turn crispy.

Plantain chips: They could be as thin as potato chips or as thick as wedges. Plantain chips make for a great snack in different parts of the world. They go by the name of chifles in Peru and Ecuador and tajadas in Colombia. 

Foo-Foo: The classic Foo-Foo is made using boiled and pounded plantains. It is a type of porridge that originated in West Africa. It is also known as ugali, nsima, posho, and many other names. A modern variation of foo-foo is made with yam, sweet potato, cassava, taro, or maize.

Mofongo: This dish is a specialty of Puerto Rico. To make Mofongo, fried plantains are smashed and mixed with garlic, salt, and oil. The batter is rolled into balls that are served alongside pork skin, meat, vegetables, and broth.

Dodo: This plantain dish is a Nigerian specialty that involves deep-frying the plantains and serving them with pickled onions, jollof rice, or frejon (coconut milk and bean soup).

Mangú: This dish originated in Dominica where it is enjoyed as a part of breakfast. The recipe involves boiling the plantains and serving them with pickled onions, eggs, fried salami, and fried cheese.

Other FAQs about Banana that you may be interested in.

How ripe should bananas be for banana bread?

Can you eat 10 bananas a day?

Can You Freeze a Banana in the Peel? (A simple Guide)

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “Can you fry bananas like plantains?”, and how to make fried bananas?

References

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/plantains-vs-bananas#what-is-the-difference-between-plantains-and-bananas

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