Brady Evans sets out to create a fantastic snack from both ripe and unripe plantains.
Text And Photo By Brady Evans
I was holding these plantains in my hand in the farmers’ market, trying to remember if I’d recently seen any recipes for plantains. I hadn’t. Then I stood still trying to remember if I knew how to tell a ripe plantain from an unripened one (or from a banana). The answer never came to me. So I grabbed two green fruits and two yellow fruits. 
I came home and searched the internet for plantain chips: an obvious introduction to this fruit. The recipe I ran across specifically called for the green fruits. I’m lucky I picked up both. (I have no idea what to do with the other two ever-so-quickly ripening plantains).
I ended up using these baked plantain chips as a crunch addition to vegetarian chili while my husband ate them in place of potato chips. They were sweet yet spicy and perfectly crunchy. The leftover plantain chips made for a delicious, healthy, baked snack, too!
PrintPlantain Chips
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 3 1x
Description
Healthy, crispy, baked plantains
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Peel plantains.
- Slice very thinly on a mandoline.
- Combine plantain slices with oil and spices in a mixing bowl. Toss to combine thoroughly.
- Arrange on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, turning slices over halfway through baking time.
- Let cool.
- Chips are best eaten immediately, but they’ll keep for about a day.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
thank you for this recipe!
The promise of sweet and spicy flavors definitely caught my attention. I have tried plantain chips several times, but never actually made them myself. It’s time to try!
For the “ever-so-quickly ripening plantains”, you can make a Filipino/American favourite: banana rolls (also known as “toron”). Cut the plantain into three segments (horizontally) and cut each third into two. Then wrap the fruits and a spoonful of brown sugar in egg roll wrappers. Seal with water and deep fry. If you’re a bit ambitious, you can put jackfruits inside as well.