If you haven’t tried plantain before and are thinking about how to boil plantains? We have step by step guide on boiling it to perfection. But before that, let us talk a little about plantain.

Plantains are among those fruits that are not as popular as they should be. The main reason is that they are overshadowed by bananas. Not many know about plantains, as they look just like bananas. But, where bananas are sweet and widely used in desserts, plantains are more versatile and open new opportunities for healthy savory snacks.

There are so many ways you can cook plantains and add them to your diet. Boiling them, however, is the easiest and quickest way to enjoy them. You can boil both ripe and unripe plantains, season them with your favorite herbs and spices and enjoy them.

My Favorite Plantain Recipes

What are plantains?

Plantains belong to the banana family and are commonly mistaken for bananas. They look quite like them; however, they are a different ingredient. Plantains are classified as fruits that are grown in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia. They range from green to yellow in color, where green is unripe and yellow is ripe. The very ripe plantains are black in color. They are not sweet when raw and are quite hard, when compared to bananas. Plantains are quite starchy as well.

Plantains are widely used in the Caribbean, Southeast Asian, African, and Central American cuisines. They are versatile; therefore, you can enjoy them in savory and sweet flavors. The sweetness of plantain depends widely on its ripeness. Ripe plantains are slightly sweet and aromatic; however, unripe plantains are bland and starchy, similar to potatoes.

Plantain v. banana:

Most people confuse bananas and plantains. The two might look the same to many, but there are noticeable differences between them. Here are a few differences that set the two fruits apart:

Appearance: Plantains and bananas look a bit alike. However, plantains are larger than bananas in size. Moreover, the skin of plantains is thicker than bananas, and they are hard to peel as well. In terms of color, plantains and bananas go side by side. Green plantains are unripe, whereas yellow plantains are ripe. Black plantains are the ripest.
Texture: Plantains differ greatly in texture as compared to bananas. They are a lot starchier. Plus, plantains are harder as well, whereas bananas are soft and mushy.
Flavor: Plantain’s flavor is bland. Bananas are known for their sweetness. However, plantains are not sweet at all. In fact, some people consider them tasteless. Moreover, black or ripe plantains are sweet.
Use: bananas are widely used in desserts. However, plantains are quite versatile. You can use them as appetizers, snacks, or desserts as well. Because of their bland flavor, they work well in both sweet and savory flavors. You can fry plantains to make chips or boil them to serve as a side as well.

Health benefits of plantains:

Plantains are a staple in several countries. It is not just versatile and convenient to consume but offers several health benefits. The nutritional information on plantains shows us that it is loaded with many nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Here are a few amazing health benefits of consuming plantain:

Firstly, plantains are high in fiber. As a result, they improve your digestive system and promote regular bowel movements. Plus, they also aid in relieving constipation.
Plantains are rich in complex carbohydrates and are low in fats. As a result, they prove to be an excellent ingredient for those who like to reduce or maintain a healthy weight. Plantains are low in fats and protein. Therefore, they are a good ingredient in a balanced diet.
They are also a rich source of vitamin B and vitamin C. As a result, they have antioxidants that prove to be very beneficial in protecting your body against chronic diseases like heart diseases and lung, breast, and stomach cancer.
The fiber and potassium present in plantains improve your heart health and functioning. Furthermore, it also reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood.
It also contains vitamin A which is known to improve your immunity and vision.

Read more about the health benefits of plantain here.

How to cook plantains?

Plantains are versatile. As a result, you can cook them in different ways. Here is an overview of how you can cook plantains:

Boiling: The easiest and healthiest way to cook plantain is by boiling it in salted water. You can boil it just like a potato. However, peel the skin first. Boiling it in salted water will help in adding a savory flavor to the plantains. Furthermore, you can also boil plantains in an instant pot. since an instant pot reduces the cooking time, you can boil them faster.
Frying: You can make plantain chips and enjoy them as a snack. Simply peel the plantains and slice them thinly. Fry them in oil and enjoy with our favorite dips and sauces; moreover, if you are looking for an oil-free snack, air fry the plantains. They’re among the healthiest snacks you can enjoy.
Baking: If you don’t want to fry or boil plantains, bake them! You can treat them just like potatoesr and roast them in the same way. Season the plantain pieces with your favorite herbs and spices, toss them in olive oil and bake them. They are simply tasteful and healthy.

Learn how to peel plantains here.

How to boil plantains?

In a large pot, pour in enough water to cover the plantain, and add salt.
Place the pot on medium heat and bring it to a boil.
Meanwhile, wash the plantains and trim the ends.
Using a sharp knife, score the plantains vertically across its length. Make sure you score the skin only and not the flesh.
Carefully remove the skin and cut the plantains into equal pieces.
Add these pieces in boiling salted water and let them cook for about 15 minutes. If you are using unripe plantains, cook them for 20 minutes.
Once they are tender, drain them and serve.

Other delicious vegan plantain recipes:

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How To Boil Plantains?

If you haven’t tried plantain before and are thinking about how to boil plantains? We have step by step guide on boiling it to perfection. But before that, let us talk a little about plantain.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Jamaican, Soul

Keyword: How To Boil Plantains?

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Servings: servings

Calories: 109kcal

Ingredients

3 medium-sized plantains ripe
water as required

Instructions

n a large pot, pour in enough water to cover the plantain, and add salt. Place the pot on medium heat and bring the water to a boil.
Meanwhile, wash the plantains and trim the ends.
Using a sharp knife, score the plantains vertically across its length. Make sure you score the skin only and not the flesh.
Carefully remove the skin and cut the plantains into equal pieces.
Add these pieces in boiling salted water and let them cook for about 15 minutes. If you are using unripe plantains, cook them for 20 minutes.
Once they are tender, drain them and serve.

Nutrition

3 Comments

claude says:

March 9, 2022 at 3:53 am

this is very important for everyone

Jacky says:

January 23, 2022 at 1:26 am

Thanks you so much i know The benefits of plantains

Boniface says:

January 23, 2022 at 1:16 am

This boil plantains is very important for me