Need something to snack on? Look no further and get yourself some plantain chips. The perfect snack with the perfect three-way combo of tasty, easy, and healthy, it ticks all the boxes you need in a snack and you do not need to worry about the negative side that many snacks have making it a good snack. 

Plantain chips are a snack made with unripe plantains, ripe plantains, or fried ripe plantains. Plantain chips are crispy and crunchy snacks that can be sweet, spicy, and salty depending on how it was made. The natural sweetness of plantain is always present in plantain chips and you can eat it alone or with other snacks. 

How to make fried plantain chips

To make the perfect fried plantain chips, you'll need;

Ingredients

• Two plantains large
• Olive or vegetable Oil for deep frying
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

Instructions

• If you want to make the chips, first cut off both ends of the plantain. Then, run your knife through the flesh of the plantain in a manner that could be described as "not too deep."

• To avoid making a mess, use a mandoline slicer to cut plantains into long, thin strips. If the plantain is too long, cut it in half before slicing.

• Place the cut plantain in a large bowl, add salt and pepper, and season with salt and black pepper.

• Heat some oil to a sufficient temperature, add the plantains, and then fry them until they're golden and crispy.

• Store the plantain chips in an airtight container or Ziploc bag when the chips are cool to prevent them from becoming soggy. You can eat them just like that or dip them in ketchup or salsa for extra flavour. 

If you do not have the patience or time to make plantain chips for yourself at home, you easily buy one at a grocery store or order online and get it delivered to your location with ease.  

What to serve with plantain chips

1. Black bean soup

Black bean soup is a classic comfort food, and it's easy to make in large batches—just refrigerate or freeze leftovers.

Black beans are rich in fibre and protein, which help keep you full for hours. They also contain many vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc, and potassium.

2. Refried beans

Refried beans are also an excellent option for pairing with plantain chips. They're relatively low in fat, high in fibre and protein, and contain calcium, iron, and a host of other nutrients. The only drawback is that they're high in sodium (the salt), so you may want to consider using less salt when preparing them.

3. Queso dip

Make sure the queso dip is warm. A cold dip will ruin the texture of your chips and make them soggy, but if it's too hot, you'll burn yourself before you can make it to the party.

Serve a variety of vegetables with your plantain chips. You can use any kind of vegetable that goes well with dips. Still, some good ones to try are carrots and celery sticks (cut them into bite-sized pieces), broccoli florets, and cauliflower florets or chunks of cauliflower rice (made from raw cauliflower).

4: Hummus

Hummus is a savoury dip made with chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. It's creamy and rich-tasting, perfect for serving with plantain chips.

There are many different types of hummus – some include tahini (sesame paste), while others have a hint of curry or paprika. You could even make your own by adding your favourite ingredients to basic hummus.

Hummus is also excellent served with other snacks like crackers or crudités.

5: Jalapeño salsa

Salsa is a great way to take your plantain chips from good to great.

Jalapeño salsa is made with fresh jalapeños and tomatoes, chopped onions and cilantro, garlic, salt, and pepper. You can also add lemon juice for some acidity if you like.

The health benefits of plantains

1: Plantains may improve digestive health

Did you know plantains are versatile worldwide and they're also packed with nutrients that can benefit your digestive health?

It's believed that plantains contain two qualities that make them beneficial to digestive health. First, resistant starch acts as a prebiotic and promotes the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon. Second, plantains have a fair amount of fibre, which improves bowel function.

Resistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that passes through the small intestine undigested and makes it into the large intestine, where it acts like a prebiotic.

Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut and help them thrive by providing food for them to consume.

Also, prebiotics increase your body's short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation in your body.

2: High in antioxidants

Plantains are packed with vitamin C. This antioxidant may help boost your immune system and protect you from free radical damage associated with ageing, heart disease, and even some types of cancer.

According to studies, Vitamin C displays powerful anti-inflammatory effects. That's why it's often recommended for people who suffer from arthritis, gout, and other inflammatory conditions.

3: Good for your heart

Plantains are one of those foods that can be intimidating for a lot of people. They're not as popular as their sweet cousin, the banana, and they've got a pretty gnarly exterior that can make you think twice about eating them. But once you get past their intimidating outer layer, plantains are an incredibly nutritious food that's great for your heart.

The high potassium content in plantains helps regulate your heartbeat and blood pressure by keeping your cells and body fluids balanced. And their fibre content helps lower cholesterol, which keeps your heart functioning at its peak.

Plantains are a great option if you're looking for a healthy substitute for foods like potatoes or grains like rice or pasta.

Unless you have a very unique definition of the word "perfect," there is no such thing as the perfect snack. However, that doesn't mean you can't find good snacks for yourself and meet your criteria. Count in plantain chips as an option that will meet your criteria and even go beyond.

Plantain chips are a healthy snack choice because they are made out of plantains which contain a great source of vitamins and minerals. Though food experts still encourage people to eat complex carbohydrates and stay away from frying food, plantain chips are a great alternative to regular potato chips.

If you're looking for a salty snack that will give you a little boost while keeping you healthy, these snack foods may just be the thing you have been looking for.