If you’re going bananas for plantain recipes, join us as we take a look at these 38 delicious recipes with plantains!
You may be confused between bananas and plantains due to their similarities, but don’t fall for that trick as they have a few key differences in flavor and usage.
Generally, bananas typically have a long, slender shape covered by thick skin.
It can be eaten raw or cooked, and it becomes sweeter and softer as it ripens.
Meanwhile, plantain is a type of banana that’s usually larger and tougher than the sweet, yellow banana which most people are familiar with.
They’re also starchy, not very sweet, and not that enjoyable to eat raw.
Today, I’m giving the spotlight to one of my favorite culinary ingredients, the plantains!
Whether plantain is baked, fried, or even grilled, this magical fruit works perfectly.
It has numerous variations too, from appetizers and sides to main course dishes!
This Caribbean curry dish is one of my go-to vegan plantain recipes whenever I have guests who want to avoid meat.
The combination of ripe plantain, sweet potato, bell peppers, tomatoes, kidney beans, and coconut milk offers you a flavorful burst of Caribbean flare.
Also, it features curry powder, black pepper, pimento berries, and ground coriander that make the curry richer and savory.
Quick note: Add some chili powder to your curry for a hint of spiciness.
This recipe is a traditional Dominican dish that’s typically consumed for breakfast or dinner.
If you haven’t tried one, this might just be the perfect time!
The dish mixes green plantains, lime, olive oil, and butter and is topped with sauteed onion and ground black pepper.
It’s best when served beside your steak and roasted asparagus.
Yummy!
You’ll be amazed at how easy these caramelized plantains are!
The best part?
It can be prepared with only four ingredients: plantains, maple syrup, cinnamon, and coconut oil!
It’s a sweet treat that’s perfect as your meal’s side dish or dessert.
Quick tip: Pick plantains that are already ripened with black spots around them for best results.
The key ingredient in this Nigerian plantain porridge recipe is palm oil, as it offers a rich, authentic flavor to the dish.
The blended pepper mixture consisting of onions and red pepper enhances the smoked turkey flavor, while the oregano and curry powder give that earthy fresh flavor to the overall dish.
If you don’t have smoked turkey, don’t worry, as smoked fish works well with this recipe too.
These Cod & Plantain Fritters are delicious when served with chipotle dipping sauce!
The combination of the two creates a burst of flavor in your mouth!
The recipe also requires arrow powder, red onion, garlic, and cilantro.
If you’re a plantain lover, this seafood-based dish is bound to make you drool!
Plantain as an ingredient for making brownies?
Why not?
With its simplicity and decadent taste, this sweet treat will step up your brownie game in no time.
The star of the recipe is the plantain.
However, I would like to recognize coconut sugar and cocoa powder as it brings the rich and chocolatey taste of the fruit.
Quick tip: For best results, pick those squishy, mushy, almost-black ripe plantain for this recipe.
Looking for ripe plantain recipes?
It’s your lucky day!
These oven-baked sweet cakes combine ripe plantains, eggs, sugar, milk, butter, vanilla extract, baking powder, cinnamon, and grated coconut as toppings.
The result?
A mouth-watering dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
It’s more enjoyable when served with both hold or cold beverages such as hot coffee, hot chocolate, iced tea, or lemonade.
Ditch your regular rice and replace it with plantains to create this vegetable-filled and vibrant dish.
The best part?
It’s just made in 30 minutes.
I know it’s crazy!
The recipe is oozing with flavor, thanks to the combination of soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and five-spice powder.
You’re welcome!
On the lookout for green plantain recipes?
Ta-da! FRIED PLANTAINS!
This easy appetizer requires only three ingredients to put together: cooking oil, green plantain, and salt.
How was that?
To make it more extraordinary, don’t forget to dip them into your favorite sauces, such as BBQ sauce, avocado sauce, and garlic sauce.
A quick tip: Tweak this recipe by putting some herbs and spices of your liking.
If it’s your first time dealing with plantain, then this recipe is an excellent place to start.
What I like about Baked Plantain Chips is they can be flavored in different ways.
Whether they’re sweet, spicy, or even a combination of both, these Baked Plantain Chips work perfectly!
Though you can find numerous baked plantain recipes online, this entree is worth adding to your recipe box, especially if you’re always opting for tasty snacks to enjoy at home.
11. Kelewele
This African-inspired fried plantain recipe is packed with essential ingredients such as ginger, hot pepper, and salt.
You can add more spices of your liking to put additional flavor to the dish.
Every bite of this spicy treat offers you that balance of crunchiness on the outside and softness on the inside.
I love to add them beside my lemon rice and roasted chicken.
It goes well with crunchy roasted peanuts as your afternoon snack too.
12. Plantain Lasagna
I was searching for sweet plantain recipes online when I stumbled upon this tasty lasagna.
Take note that it’s not an ordinary lasagna as it uses plantains instead of lasagna noodles.
Aside from the plantains, the ground beef sauce, cottage cheese mixture, and mozzarella distribute the recipe’s overall flavor.
The dish is sweet and savory enough to convince you to switch up your traditional lasagna recipe!
Start off your morning with something filling and satiating!
This Plantain Tempeh Breakfast Hash combines bell peppers, black beans, vegetable broth, lime juice, and spices, resulting in a flavorful, super breakfast dish!
It’s tastier when topped with your favorite salsa or served with avocado or guacamole on its side.
You can even wrap them up in a tortilla!
14. Caribbean Nachos
Ditch the classic nachos and take a shot on this Caribbean version filled with crispy and deep-fried green plantain, red chili sauce, pulled pork, and pinto beans.
And whether you serve these nachos to your family or a game-day crowd, this dish is bound to be a winner!
If you need more than six servings or want to have leftovers for the rest of the week, feel free to double the recipe.
Upgrade your ordinary fried green plantains or tostones by dunking them into this aromatic garlic dipping sauce.
Ideal as a meal appetizer, these tostones come together in just several minutes; it’s also full of pantry staples that you may already have on hand.
These little delights also pair exceptionally well with pork, Puerto chicken, rice, or black beans.
Is there any dish out there that’s ever tasted bad with cheddar cheese? I say no.
This Caribbean Plantain Gratin recipe features creamy goodness that will make you think it’s a pure definition of comfort on a plate.
Meanwhile, the béchamel sauce, consisting of milk, butter, flour and garlic, nutmeg, and dried thyme, lends plenty of flavor profile to this divine plantain.
Ready to spice up your green plantains?
These crunchy, fried arañitas are well worth the try.
Simply gather the essential ingredients such as green plantains, garlic salt, and oil.
Peel the plantains and grate them into strips.
Smash them together to form into bites, then fry until golden brown.
There’s plenty of room to customize this little snack to what you have on hand.
Add red onions and chopped chives into the mix for extra flavor, or sprinkle some cilantro leaves at the end for better presentation.
18. Plantain Salsa
Looking for a more flavorful way to enjoy plantain?
Then consider the plantain salsa!
Spread this spicy sauce with a citrus vinaigrette on a chicken taco, and you’ll never go back to your regular salsa again.
Don’t limit yourself; add and subtract ingredients depending on your taste to create your very own go-to salsa recipe.
I can assure you that this dish is absolutely incredible in every way!
These pancakes have a good density to them, but they’re still light and fluffy.
The maple syrup’s sweetness and vanilla undertones eliminate the need for additional sugar in the batter.
An excellent alternative to traditional breakfast fare is plantain pancakes!
Pasteles En Hoja, a tamale-like dish popular in both Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, is popular street food.
Plantain and root vegetable batter are used in place of maize “masa” as a base.
Beef is the most typical filling, but you can also use chicken or any other meat you prefer.
This meal is peppery, garlicky, and full of meaty flavor!
And remember that you can use parchment paper in wrapping this dish in place of banana tree leaves if it’s not available.
In the Philippines, Turon is a widely popular snack and street dish!
Ripe and sweet sliced plantains are covered in sugar and cinnamon, then encased in a spring roll wrapper and fried until browned and crispy.
Cinnamon adds a warm, sweet flavor to each mouthful, which is crunchy on the outside, and the plantain inside is soft and moist.
Nothing beats this dessert, especially when served with an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream!
22. Mofongo
It’s plausible to claim that Mofongo’s tasty Puerto Rican cuisine has African roots, as mashed plantains are common in most African households.
A chewy shrimp with flavorful sauce and unripe mashed plantains come together in this mouthwatering dish!
Additionally, Mofongo’s salty flavor is enhanced by fried pork rinds, which add a savory flavor and texture to this recipe.
After this meal, your taste sensations will tingle with anticipation of what’s next!
Toss out the pre-made patties and make your own with these plantain-flavored ground beef patties!
These beef patties’ combination of delicate, soft, and unusual flavors makes for an unexpectedly engaging meal.
Because of their natural sweetness, ripe plantains are an excellent choice for this recipe as they offset the beef’s heaviness.
It could seem to be an odd pairing, but trust me, it’s worth it!
You’ll be raving about this appetizer for days!
Bacon’s excellent crispness and moistness from the baked plantain on the interior make for a beautiful mouth-feeling sensation.
When these bacon-wrapped plantains come out of the oven, I promise you’ll be in love at first bite with the mixture of salty, sweet, and everything is lovely!
Flank steak, finely chopped and spiced with Mexican chipotle sauce, replaced the traditional ground beef in this recipe for a much more beefy flavor.
Biting into them reveals the richness of the steak and the sweetness of the plantain in the savory filling with various spices.
If you’re a lover of empanadas, you’re going to enjoy these plantain-filled variations.
26. Poulet DG
Poulet DG is a French phrase that means “chicken for the Director General,” as this dish was traditionally offered to the wealthy elite.
Green seasoning paste and habanero pepper add a fresh herbaceous note to this French-inspired chicken dish, which also has a touch of heat and smokiness.
They are served with various vegetables, including green beans, carrots, and ripe plantains.
Because of this, the DG’s appeal extends beyond its taste to its appearance as well.
Have you ever used plantains in your cooking?
Starting with a stew is a fantastic way for you to get acquainted with them.
The charred and caramelized flavor that results from roasting the plantains is ideal for blending with the other ingredients in this dish.
Apart from the smokiness of the fire-roasted tomatoes, this stew’s subtle warmth and taste are boosted by turmeric, which adds a peppery spice touch.
Deliciousness overload in a bowl!
Is tonight’s big game pizza night?
What makes this pizza so delicious is that it has plantain-based dough and mozzarella cheese.
Bringing plantain’s natural fruitiness to the crust creates a delectable contrast to the tart cherry tomato topping.
With ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses as the toppings, this pizza is a cheese lover’s dream!
Pizza from the store may no longer be an option once you try this homemade
version!
29. Plantain Arepas
In Venezuela and Colombia, the Arepa is one of the favorite snacks.
A pan named budare was traditionally used for cooking them.
However, they can also be grilled, fried, or baked.
In the end, you get a crusty outside and a soft center.
You may stuff your arepas with anything you want, including chicken, shredded beef, and beans, or top them with cheese.
Do you recall how to make Pastelón from what I described earlier?
This recipe has been adapted to make individual servings.
Fried plantains stuffed with ground meat, garlic, bell peppers, onions, and other seasonings, then garnished with cheese, make a delightful meal.
Meat filling cooks to bubbling with zesty ingredients as the aroma fills the house—I’m starving!
It’s refreshing to see something else than the usual hefty potato salads served at summer barbecues!
As most grocery stores only offer green plantains, you’ll need to buy them a few days ahead of time for this salad recipe.
Just the blend of avocado’s buttery, creamy flavor with the sweet, ripe plantains are too irresistible to pass up!
Also, that tangy-bright lime dressing makes this salad taste like a fiesta!
Carnitas are supple and fall apart within your mouth, with a little crisp char to give you a variety of textures.
If you add black beans, plantains, and the zesty salsa Pico de gallo to the mix, along with some seasoned rice, you’ve got yourself one tasty bowl.
Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowls combine the best outcome in one delectable and wholesome meal.
33. Plantain Kofta
This plantain kofta is another meatball game changer!
Potatoes and plantains are mashed together and seasoned with Indian spices like garam masala to add a little warmth.
The plantain meatballs are so tender and flavorsome that you won’t even notice they’re meatless!
And it’s lovely to have a mouthfeel of the thick and rich sauce with the juicy meatballs as you chew on them.
Meatless Monday dishes have never been so easy to come up with as this one!
So, you’ll start with ripe and sweet plantains and then coat them with a spicy cinnamon-cayenne-cumin mix to achieve a nice and spicy finish.
You can also use them with beef or chicken tacos if you like.
However, I think they combine exceptionally well with the spicy black beans because of its not so overwhelming flavor profile.
I also highly recommend serving them with mango salsa, and you’ll surely love it!
From the 12th century onward, hot cross buns have a long and illustrious history.
Yeasty sweet buns loaded with various fruits, including raisins, candied citrus, currants, and spices, are what you’ll find in these fluffy baked goodies.
To signify the crucifix, they’re decorated with a white cross made of icing, either etched into the dough or carved into it.
On Holy Friday, many people eat hot cross buns, which are a classic Easter delicacy.
For a truly unusual take on traditional Hot Cross Buns, this recipe is vegan and gluten-free, giving it a distinct spin from start to finish!
Simmering the plantains until they’re soft in a simple sugar syrup gives plantains a deep caramel color and an extra layer of fruitiness.
This Filipino treat has a marvelously pleasant sweetness you’ll want to devour again and again!
On its own, it tastes great, but it may also be served with crushed ice and tapioca pearls as well as a little evaporated milk to make it an even more enjoyable summertime dessert!
Perfectly spiced and creamy, this Caribbean Fish Stew is a head-turner!
Because of its mild flavor, fish readily takes on the tastes and spices of the stew, which is what gives it its complex taste and aroma.
You may use any fish you have on hand, and if you’d like, you can even throw in some shrimp for more seafood goodness!
Get your hands on some rice with this Caribbean Fish Stew for a meal you won’t soon forget!
To achieve the right taste and texture, this waffle is made with both ripe and unripe plantains.
Because of the date sugar that provides a tinge of butterscotch taste and the earthiness of the cinnamon, these waffles are a cut above the rest!
They’re perfect for piling on whatever you want, from fresh fruit to mixed berries to whipped cream and even coconut flakes.
Everything about this dish screams “deliciousness!”
The bottom line
It’s true that bananas and plantains come from the same family of plants.
But keep in mind that the latter has different culinary usage and is very distinct in terms of flavor profiles than the former.
Either way, they’re both wonderful fruits!
If you have some plantain recipes, feel free to share them with us in the comment section below!
38 Delicious Ways To Cook Plantains 🍌
If you’re going bananas for plantain recipes, join us as we take a look at these 38 delicious recipes with plantains!
Ingredients
- Caribbean Plantain Curry
- Dominican Mangu
- Caramelized Cinnamon Plantains
- Nigerian Plantain Porridge
- Cod & Plantain Fritters
- Vegan Plantain Brownies
- Ripe Plantain & Coconut Mini Cakes
- Plantain Fried Rice
- Fried Plantains
- Baked Plantain Chips
- Kelewele
- Plantain Lasagna
- Plantain Tempeh Breakfast Hash
- Caribbean Nachos
- Tostones With Garlic Sauce
- Cheesy Caribbean Plantain Gratin
- Fried Plantain Arañitas
- Plantain Salsa
- Plantain Pancakes
- Pasteles En Hoja (Dominican Plantain Leaf Pockets)
- Turon (Filipino Banana Lumpia)
- Mofongo
- Ground Beef & Plantain Patties
- Baked-Bacon Wrapped Plantains
- Plantain Picadillo Empanadas (Empanadas De Platano)
- Poulet DG
- Roasted Plantain Bean Stew
- Three Cheese Plantain Crust Pizza
- Plantain Arepas
- Stuffed Plantains
- Caribbean Plantain & Avocado Salad
- Pork Carnitas Burrito Bowl
- Plantain Kofta
- Spicy Plantain Black Bean Tacos
- Plantain Hot Cross Buns
- Plantain Bananas In Syrup (Minatamis Na Saging)
- Caribbean Fish Stew
- Berries & Cream Sweet Plantain Waffles
Instructions
- Pick one or more options from our list of Plantain Recipes here!
- Start creating your new favorite dish.
- Share and comment! Did you make any changes to make it even better?