Tostones are made with green plantains. They are crispy and you sprinkle them with salt. They are very good with rice dishes such as Shrimp Creole, Chicken and Yellow Rice, Black Beans and Rice. They are a Cuban staple, and are quite delicious.
The yellow plantain which is ripening and should turn completely black before you cook it, is called a "sweet plantain" or "platano maduro". The tostones are not sweet. Both are very good with Cuban meals. I always have them in the house, since I cook a lot of Cuban Style meals, and the Cuban hubby loves them with everything.
Cut off the ends, and make 2-3 slits from one end to the other with a sharp knife. The slits make it much easier to peel off the thick skin in sections.
Cut into 1 inch pieces.
Cover the bottom of a heavy skillet with vegetable oil on medium heat fry the plantains turning 2-3 times just to soften them on the inside in order to smash them. They will turn bright yellow. You don't want to brown them.
Remove all of them from the skillet and place on a plate and let them cool for a minute. Now you are ready to smash. Place one at a time in the smasher.
And smash!!
Remove from smasher and set aside.
When they are all smashed, return to medium heat in your skillet with oil and fry until crispy on both sides.
Place on a paper towel and salt right away.
I'm truly a Southern Gal, can't you tell, there's my leftover bacon from the morning, Oh Yeah!
Make some Cuban Style Shrimp and Yellow Rice with some of these tostones, and you will not be sorry you did. Please contact me if you have any questions.
I Wish You Love And Hope You Try Different Foods From Different Cultures,
Goodness knows we are a melting pot here in the Good Ole' USA.
Goodness knows we are a melting pot here in the Good Ole' USA.
Joyce
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