Name: Tostones (Fried Green Plantains)
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 1 green plantain -; Avocado oil, or other neutral oil, for frying -; 1 c. water -; 2 small garlic cloves, minced -; 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt -; Juice from 1 small lime -; 1 tbsp. non-dairy cream cheese (such as Violife brand) -; lime juice, to taste -; Kosher salt, to taste -; handful of cilantro leaves, chopped -; 1 tbsp. maple sugar -; 1 tbsp. crushed red pepper flakes -; 1 tbsp. kosher salt -; 1 tbsp. garlic flakes -

Ingredients for - Tostones (Fried Green Plantains)

1. 1 green plantain

2. Avocado oil, or other neutral oil, for frying

3. 1 c. water

4. 2 small garlic cloves, minced

5. 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

6. Juice from 1 small lime

7. 1 tbsp. non-dairy cream cheese (such as Violife brand)

8. lime juice, to taste

9. Kosher salt, to taste

10. handful of cilantro leaves, chopped

11. 1 tbsp. maple sugar

12. 1 tbsp. crushed red pepper flakes

13. 1 tbsp. kosher salt

14. 1 tbsp. garlic flakes

How to cook deliciously - Tostones (Fried Green Plantains)

1 . Stage

Make the brine: In a large bowl, whisk all ingredients together. Set aside.

2 . Stage

Make the lime sour cream: In a medium-size bowl, whisk the cream cheese and lime juice, to taste. Season with salt, and add the cilantro. Set aside.

3 . Stage

Make the chili salt: using a mortar and pestle, or a spice grinder, grind sugar, pepper flakes, salt, and garlic flakes. Set aside.

4 . Stage

Fill a large straight-sided skillet or pan with 2" of oil, and heat oil to 300°. (You want to keep the oil between 285° and 300° for this first stage of frying.)

5 . Stage

Slice the plantain in half crosswise, then run a sharp knife along the outsides of each half. (This is called scoring; it will help to make peeling the plantain easier.) Slice the plantain to make 2” thick circles.

6 . Stage

Fry the plantain circles for about 3 minutes, or until golden yellow. Transfer the plantains to a baking sheet or large plate. While still warm, use a cup or tortilla press that has been lightly oiled, and flatten the plantains into a disks. Once flattened, add the plantains to the brine so that they are fully immersed, and then immediately remove them.

7 . Stage

Raise the temperature of the oil to 350°. Add the flattened plantains to the hot oil for a second fry, and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until they are golden. Transfer the plantain circles to a paper towel-lined baking sheet or large plate.

8 . Stage

Transfer the plantain to a bowl, and season with the chili garlic salt. Serve with the lime sour cream.