Jan 29, 2008
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Twice-Fried Green Plantains with Garlic Dipping Sauce

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Twice-Fried Green Plantains with Garlic Dipping Sauce Credit: Sandy Perez and John Kernick

(Tostones con Mojo)

SERVES 6

You can flatten the tostones between two pieces of plantain skin, but the bottom of a small pan or a flat pot lid will work, too.

FOR THE MOJO:
3–4 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
Salt
3–6 cilantro sprigs, leaves chopped
2–3 culantro leaves, trimmed and
   chopped (optional)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

FOR THE TOSTONES:
3 green plantains
Vegetable oil
Salt

1. For the mojo: Put garlic and a generous pinch of salt into a mortar. Crush to a rough paste with the pestle, then add cilantro and culantro (if using) and crush until bruised and fragrant. Add oil while grinding in a circular motion. Adjust seasoning. Set aside.

2. For the tostones: To remove tough green skin from plantains, trim off both ends with a sharp knife, then make a few slits through skin the length of each plantain. Push your thumb between skin and flesh; pry skin away from flesh. It will come off in pieces, like bark from a tree. Trim off any woody fiber stuck to plantains. Cut plantains into 1"-thick rounds.

3. Pour oil into a large heavy skillet to a depth of 1", then heat to 325° on a candy thermometer over medium heat. Fry plantains in two batches until lightly golden and hollow-sounding when tapped, about 3 minutes. Transfer plantains with a slotted spatula to paper towels to drain. Working quickly, press warm tostones with the clean bottom of a small pan or a flat pot lid, flattening them to about half their original thickness.

4. Return flattened tostones to oil and fry in batches until crisp around edges and deeply golden, about 2 minutes more. Transfer tostones to paper towels to drain and season to taste with salt while still hot. Serve tostones hot with mojo as a dipping sauce.

Twice-Fried Green Plantains with Garlic Dipping Sauce

This article was first published in Saveur in Issue #41

Ratings & Reviews (1)

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I have a better sauce that is not so oily.Using a mortar and pestle crush 3 cloves of garlic with 1/2 tsp. salt.Pound until creamy.Add 1 can tomato sauce and 1 tbsp. olive oil.Mix well. Enjoy!
Twice-Fried Green Plantains with Garlic Dipping Sauce Reviewed by YTREASUREGOMES on . I have a better sauce that is not so oily.Using a mortar and pestle crush 3 cloves of garlic with 1/2 tsp. salt.Pound until creamy.Add 1 can tomato sauce and 1 tbsp. olive oil.Mix well. Enjoy! Rating: 5

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