Fried Plantains (Maduros)

  • Total Time - 15 minutes
  • Prep Time - 5 minutes
  • Cook Time - 10 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Jamaica
A mound of golden and glistening fried plantains on a plate, ready to be served.

The key to making perfect fried plantains is to use the right kind of plantains. They must be ripe - the skin should be almost entirely black for them to be sweet enough. If you use green plantains, they will be more like fried potatoes, so it really depends on your preference. However, for a traditional 'Maduros', you must use a yellow to black plantain.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 4 ripe plantains (with black spots or almost entirely black)
  • 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Plantains

Peel the ripe plantains. Slice them diagonally into 1 cm thick pieces.

Step 2: Frying

In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Fry the plantain slices in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes per side until they are golden brown and soft. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which would cause the plantains to become greasy rather than crispy.

Step 3: Finishing and Serving

Remove the cooked plantains from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain the excess oil. Season them lightly with salt and serve immediately while they are warm.