How to cook plantains for maximum flavour

One of Nigeria's most eaten carbs has to be the plantains, a close relative of the banana family. Plantains present themselves as more complex fruit that is used in a variety of dishes. Plantains have a sweet and mature taste that makes them a tantalizing option to include in meals and is loved by the majority. If you're looking to try out plantains in your meals, here are different ways you can cook plantains, the best pairing, and how to select the best plantains to cook. 

Plantains are very versatile, and you can get creative with them by making different meals with them or pairing them with your favourite foods like rice and even ice cream.

Nutritional value of plantains

Plantains are an amazing source of fibre, producing a great amount of the dietary fibre that the body needs daily. Plantains are rich in minerals like vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A. Plantains have a low fat content that makes them a great addition to a diet.

Difference between Plantains and Bananas

While the plantain is relative to the banana (Musaceae) and shares some similarities, they are very different in other aspects.

For starters, plantains are larger than bananas, and they have thicker skin compared to bananas. Plantains also have flesh that is denser than bananas because they have thicker flesh. Plantains aren't usually eaten raw and are most times cooked before consumption, unlike bananas.

Plantains also have a more complex flavour; while bananas are sweet, plantains are less sweet and have a very slight tangy taste that gives them a mature taste, making them an attractive option for cooking.

How do I know if a plantain is ripe?

The first way to know is that when a plantain ripens, its skin turns from green to yellow and eventually black when it becomes overripe. Overripe plantains are good for baking, while a yellow plantains is ripe and can be used in sweet dishes. Green or unripe plantains are best for savoury dishes that require a firmer texture because they are unripe.

Ripe plantains should be firm but not overly so. A ripe plantain should give slightly when pressed gently. Plantains are considered to be overripe and usually should be discarded if they are too soft or mushy (but we'll show you a great way you can use soft plantains). Ripe plantains have a sweet aroma, similar to that of a banana.

How to know the best plantains to buy

Picking out the best of the bunch of plantains for cooking entirely depends on the kind of cooking you're getting up to. Whether you're looking to add plantains to a blend or just outright cook them, here are a few things you should look out for when selecting plantains.

Texture: When you touch plantains, they should be firm and free of splotches that indicate bruises and other imperfections. You should try squeezing the plantain delicately to ensure it isn't excessively delicate or soft, as this can show that it is overripe and it may not be what you're looking for.

Colour: The plantain's colour can tell you if this bunch is what you're looking for. Green plantains are best used for unsweetened dishes, while yellow plantains, which are riper, are better for frying and baking.

Size: Smaller-sized plantains are suitable for frying, while larger plantains do well in dishes and baking.

Smell: Unripe plantains may have a more earthy scent to them, whereas ripe plantains have a sweet aroma.

Easy and creative ways to cook plantains

Fried Plantains

Frying plantains is one of the most common ways to prepare them and is great as a stand-alone dish or can be a side dish to complement other meals. Ideally, you want to use ripe plantains when frying, slice your plantains into thin round shapes, heat oil in a frying pan, and fry the plantains until golden brown and crispy for fried plantains.

Boiled Plantains

While fried sweet plantains are the popular method, plantains can also be boiled. This is usually done to make the plantains firmer and sweeter. It is also an alternative way for people to eat plantains without having to fry them and worry about cholesterol levels. Green plantains are more commonly boiled as much as yellow plantains are; these boiled plantains are topped with stew or eaten with fried eggs.

Baked Plantains

Baking plantains is another way to avoid excessive oils in your meal, simply brush your plantain slices with oil, placing them on a baking sheet. Then bake them in the oven until they are tender and golden brown.

Roasted Plantains

Roasted plantains, also known as bole, are a famous street delicacy on the streets of Nigeria that add a smoky flavour to the dish. It is made by simply roasting plantains over a grill till they have a hard outer texture.

Plantain Pancakes

If you have black plantains, here's a way you can use them without letting your plantains go to waste. Get your black plantains and blend them till they have a smooth consistency, then mix them into flour with sugar and then simply cook them like pancakes.

Plantain chips

Plantains chips are a snack that can be made from plantains. Unripe and ripe plantains can be used when making plantains chips. When slicing your plantains, make sure you get them into thin slices. Heat your oil till it's hot enough to immediately bubble when you drop your plantains in them, and fry your plantains for 3 to 5 minutes till they're golden brown.

Plantain Porridge

Rather than using yams, you can make your porridge with plantains as the main carbohydrates instead. Cut your plantains into chunks and boil in a pot of salted water; slice onions over the pot; and add your palm oil and seasonings once the mixture is boiling. Crush a few of the plantains to get a thicker paste in your porridge, and once you let the pot boil for around 10 minutes, set it down and stir. You can garnish the porridge with vegetables for taste.

What Goes Well With Plantains?

A lot of meals can be paired with plantains and go really well. Pairing plantains with the right meals can take their flavour and texture to the next level. The inclusion of plantains in a dish can help to balance out the richness of a meal by adding elements of sweetness to it. Knowing what goes well with plantains is key to expanding your palate, and here are a few meals that go well with plantains.

Beans

Beans and plantains are a Nigerian favourite, the way the two complement each other with the sweetness of the plantains and the rich taste of the beans. 

Rice

Rice and plantains are like two peas in a pod, so it would be odd in most cases to eat rice without fried plantains as a side dish. This is another mashup that always works well, accompanied with a protein like chicken, and you have yourself an amazing meal.

Protein

Plantains go well with a large variety of proteins, from chicken to fish to eggs.