Fried Plantains (Tostones Venezolanos)

Tostones Venezolanos are twice-fried smashed slices usually served as a side dish or appetizer. It’s a traditional dish throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Made of unripe plantains, they are best served with a dipping sauce.

Fried Plantains are crispy salted little golden coins, that go with absolutely everything. Perfect for a side dish, appetizer, or even a small snack. As a Transylvanian, I started to have the tostones in my diet after I married a Dominican guy. We don’t have these plantains at home, but it was a nice surprise to find something different and delicious from another country.

In some regions, it is customary to dip them in garlic sauce (mojo), fresh lime, or just simply with ketchup. They can be served with cheese on the top, with Guacamole or if you love spiciness Tomatillo Green Chili Salsa is a perfect choice. Go with our heavenly chicken recipe, Dominican beans, or the never-boring rice and chicken (Locrio de Pollo) as a side dish.

I remember eating Tostones Venezolanos for the first time. I couldn’t believe, I missed this thing out for so long. But trust me, this was the first one I made sure to learn how to make it with all the secrets. Now, I do this every week. And you’ll do the same. Trust me.

In Latin American countries and the Caribbean, fried plantains appear under two names. Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Peru are called Patacones. In Cuba, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic are called Tostones.

How to smash the tostones

People were asking me, how to smash the plantains nicely and beautifully. The tostonera press is used for that. Tostonera press is a kitchen tool, typically made of wood, that flattens the plantains beautifully. But there are so many other options too if you don’t have the tostonera:

1. Tostonera
2. Bottom of a Glass
3. Meat Pounder
4. Back of the wooden spoon
5. Bottom of a Can
6. Bottom of the Measure Cup – the biggest you have (I used the one-cup capacity one)

Pretty much anything that is flat on the bottom works just fine.

Other ways to cook plantains

• Mangu – boiled and mashed plantains served with salami, cheese, and eggs
• Maduros – fried sweet plantains for a break from the savory.
• Mofongo – mashed fried green plantains with garlic
• Pastelon – lasagna created with thin layers of plantains
• Boiled plantain – When the plantain is already yellow, you can boil it. Softer and sweeter.

How to Make the Tostones Venezolanos

Peel the plantains and cut them into 1- 1½inch chunks.

Heat the oil in a large skillet, and fry the plantains on both sides until you get a golden color. Don’t make it too crispy.

Remove the plantains from the oil on a chopping board and flatten each one, by placing any flat surfaced plate (or a measurement cup) on the top and pressing down.

Return the plantain slices to the hot oil and fry them for 1 minute on each side, until they are all crispy and crunchy.

Add salt and black pepper to taste. Best to serve immediately.

Fried plantains are a good side dish for these recipes

• Smoked Mac and Cheese,
• Steaks on a Blackstone Griddle,
• Spicy Chicken Riggies,
• Vegetarian Stew
• Homemade Beef Jerky
• Chicken Spaghetti
• Chicken fried rice on Blackstone
• Chicken Shawarma
• Sweet Potato Ground Beef Casserole
• Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
• Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Common questions:

Are fried plantains healthy?

Well, everything fried in vegetable oil, is not the healthier choice. Period. But you can choose other oils to make it a healthier choice. I love to make it with coconut oil, which compliments the flavor of the plantain… and on top of that is healthier.

What can I do with leftover fried plantains?

If you have leftovers, just put them in the freezer. When you take them out, fry them once until they are crispy again.

Can I fry bananas instead of plantains?

Yes, you can but the results are not going to be the same as the plantains. The bananas are soft and sweet while the plantains are hard and only sweet when they are ripe. Bananas can go well for a dessert, but plantains go well for a savory side dish, appetizer, or snack.

Can you eat plantains raw?

Plantains are sweet and eatable when they are ripe, but it’s not a popular choice to eat them raw.