Skip the greasy pan-fried method!
Here’s how to make really good tostones with your air fryer.
Food is famous for dragging us down memory lane.
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You look just like my grandmother doing that, he said.
Years later he told me that was the moment he knew he was going to marry me.
What Are Tostones?
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Tostones (also known aspataconesin some Latin American countries) are comforting to those who grew up eating them.
What Are Plantains?
Plantains are a variety of banana that must be cooked because of the amount of starch they contain.
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Its not a pretty sight or flavor.
Underripe, green plantains are more like potatoes than bananas: high starch, low sugar.
This means that bananas cant stand in for plantains because of their higher sugar content.
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They just wont hold together for this recipe.
When in doubt just remember: The plantains need to be cooked.
Peeling a green plantain is easy.
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Cut off both ends of the plantain before scoring the peel down the back of the plantain.
Use the fleshy parts of your thumbs to remove the plantains fibrous peel.
It cuts down on the fat and the mess (no oil splatters) but still yields crispy tostones.
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Be sure to drain your tostones on paper towels after each frying session.
How to Flatten Tostones
Most Latin American homes have at least onetostonerain their kitchens.
This tool is used to flatten the softened pieces of plantain.
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Tostoneras are used almost exclusively for making tostones and, in many homes, often double as wall art.
What to Serve With Tostones?
Some people also enjoy a warmed garlic oil known asajillo.
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Garlic oil isnt used as often because the flavor can be quite strong.
To maintain the tostones crispness, the final fry should be done just prior to serving them.
Seal them in a freezer storage bag for up to two months.
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Thaw them completely before frying the final time in the air fryer.
Need More Snack Ideas?
Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
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you might do this up to 48 hours in advance.
Remove the ends of the green plantains with a sharp knife.
Combine 4 cups of cold water and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt.
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Slice the plantain into 1 1/2-inch-thick chunks and soak them in water for 20 minutes.
(Soaking the plantains prevents browning and keeps the air-fried plantains from drying out while cooking.
Remove the plantains from the water and dry each one thoroughly.
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Toss the plantain slices in a bowl with 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil.
double-check each plantain is coated in a thin layer of the oil.
Transfer the plantains to your air fryers basket.
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Fry until the plantain offers no resistance when pierced with the tip of a knife.
This can take anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes per side.
Increase the air fryers temperature to 400F.
The plantain should be a flat 1/4-inch thick disc that holds together.
Immediately after removing them from the air fryer.
Serve the tostones with the mayo-ketch sauce while still hot.
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