Air Fryer Plantains

Air Fryer Plantains are an easy and delicious side dish or snack. This recipe has only 2 ingredients and is ready in just 15 minutes!

Plantains are a wonderfully versatile food. And, these air fryer plantains are so amazing. They really don’t require much effort and don’t take long to make. They are simple and tasty. If you’re looking for a quick and healthy snack, this should be added to your list of things to try!

What Are Plantains?

If you have never had plantain, then you really need to try them! They are cousins to a banana and are popular in Caribbean, African, and Latin American cuisine.  They are described as being much starchier than ripe bananas, so they are typically eaten cooked.

Plantains can be eaten when they are ripe or unripe. Unripened plantains are hard with green skin and white flesh when the skin is peeled. Ripe plantains vary from yellow skin to black. There are several ways to cook them: baked, fried, or roasted.

I have been eating plantains all my life and we grew them next to bananas in Jamaica. We enjoyed both green plantains and yellow-ripened sweet plantains. Green plantains are a great gluten-free alternative.

Plantains can also be boiled and served as a potato. You can mash the boiled plantain and serve it like mashed potatoes (Mangu). You can even substitute it for a green banana for making Banana Porridge.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Plantains

• They are gluten-free, vegan, whole30, and paleo.
• Less greasy and easier to clean up!
• A flavor explosion on the tongue.
• Everyone – kids and adults alike – enjoy this.
• Simple to prepare requires little prep time and takes no more than 20 minutes.
• Using an air fryer, you don’t have to worry about preheating time and it evenly roasts the plantains.
• Apart from its deliciousness, this air fryer roasted side dish is quite healthy.
• Compared to fried plantains, these are better for you. Regular fried plantains are unhealthy and high in calories.

This overlooked Superfood is well worth the visit to the supermarket. Keep reading to learn why.

Health Benefits of Plantains

Plantains are an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber, and vitamins and minerals, including folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Plantains have a low fat and sodium content.

Good for Heart Health

Plantains contain a high amount of potassium, which is essential for the proper functioning of your heart and blood vessels. Plantains are also rich in fiber, which helps to decrease cholesterol and keep your heart healthy.

Helps Control Blood Sugar

Plantains contain a high concentration of resistant starch. Resistant starch, like other forms of fiber, does not increase blood sugar levels. Plantains’ resistant starch aids glycemic control by slowing digestion, increasing satiety, and strengthening “good” gut bacteria.

Improve Digestive Health

Fiber is critical because it helps maintain bowel regularity. Fiber softens and bulks out your feces. Stools that are bulky are considerably easier to pass and so help prevent constipation. A fiber-rich diet can also help prevent hemorrhoids and diverticular disease, which causes tiny pouches in the large intestine.

Fiber also makes you feel fuller longer, slows your digestion, and may even help lower your cholesterol levels.

Helps Prevent Anemia

Plantains are high in vitamin C and Iron, two minerals that help in improving absorption. Although iron from plants is not always as easily absorbed as iron from animal sources, vitamin C boosts its bioavailability.

Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, reduced immunity, and poor temperature regulation are all symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Plantains can assist you in avoiding this common ailment.

Nutritional Support During Pregnancy

Carotenoids, which are found in plantains, are converted to vitamin A. Plantains are an essential source of vitamin A for people residing in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Plantains help prevent vitamin A deficiency in women of reproductive age. Additionally, plantains include folate and iron, two nutrients that are necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

Good Healthy Mind

It has the potential to improve brain function and slow cognitive decline. According to a study, vitamin B6 (30 mg every day) plus magnesium (300 mg every day) decreased symptoms of depression by 40% in patients with anxiety and depression during an 8-week period.

Both magnesium and vitamin B6 are abundant in plantains.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Plantains

Plantains – You’ll need two ripe plantains that are firm when chopped and fried in the air fryer. It’s best if the skins have a lot of black on them. They become sweeter and softer as they ripen, similar to bananas.

Oil – Use a small amount of any neutral-flavored oil. My go-to oils are olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.

How To Make Air Fryer Plantains

1. Using a sharp knife, cut off the ends. Slice through the skin of the ripe plantain lengthwise, being careful not to cut the flesh. Peel the skin and discard.
2. Make diagonal slices of the plantain flesh about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Brush or spray the air fryer basket with oil.
4. Lay the plantain slices next to each other in a single layer in the basket of the air fryer.
5. Cook plantain at 370 degrees F. for 8 minutes. Turn the slices over and cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Serve the plantains while warm.

Expert Tips

• For air fryer plantains, ripe plantains are used instead of green plantains.
• If you can’t find ripe plantains, purchase the green ones and allow them to sit on the counter for about 5 days to ripen. When ripe, the plantain should give slightly when pressed.
• To ensure consistent cooking, slice the plantains into nearly the same thickness. The duration of time it takes to cook the slices is determined by their thickness.
• Spread the plantains out in a single layer to ensure even cooking. Your air fryer might not be big enough to cook all of them at once.
• Leave some space among the plantain fries to ensure even cooking and crispness.
• Not all air fryers work in the same way. You may need to adjust the recipe times and temperatures accordingly.
• When making a recipe in your air fryer for the first time, please check midway during the cooking time to ensure they aren’t overcooked.
• If you like, you can also cook these plantains in the oven.

Substitutions and Variations

• You can make plantain chips by slicing them (the yellow hard ones) extremely thin.
• If you want to serve air fryer plantains as a dessert, you may also top them with cinnamon and sugar.
• Before air frying, try tossing the plantains with your favorite ingredients, such as garlic powder, cayenne, or Cajun seasoning.
• For a fresh flavor, squeeze lime juice right before serving.
• After roasting, try topping your air fryer plantains with fresh herbs like parsley or thyme or your favorite cheese.
• Fill tacos with air fried plantains and your favorite taco toppings.

Storing Tips

Leftover Air Fryer Plantains can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or a month in the freezer (But I don’t suggest freezing for longer). To preserve the flavor, I recommend freezing them in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Although you can reheat them in the microwave, to retain the crispy texture I like air frying them for a few minutes.

Serving Suggestions

Plantains cooked in the air fryer are best served hot. Serve them plain or with a dip as a snack, side dish, or appetizer. They are delicious served with Vegan Ackee, Bammy, and Jamaican Callaloo.

Make an entire vegan supper out of air-fried plantains, British Baked Beans, and Garlic Rice.

Recipe FAQs

Other Air Fryer Recipes To Try

• Air Fryer Kale Chips
• Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
• Cauliflower Hash Brown Recipe
• Air Fryer Fruit Cake
• Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato

Give these air fryer plantains a shot! They are incredibly delicious and super easy. I hope it makes your life easier too!

As always, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to leave any feedback or share your own experience with us in the comments section below.

Want More Vegan Plantain Recipes?

• Baked Plantains
• Vegan Plantain Bread
• Plantain Fritters
• Plantain Fries
• Vegan Pastelon ( Plantain Lasagna)

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