Tostones with garlic mojo
I don’t know if you have had tostones before (twice fried green plantains) but if you haven’t get your platanos as quickly as you can.
Tostones are the comparable to French fries for people living in Latin America specially in the Caribbean. Tostones are green plantains that are fried, then smashed to get them flat and fried again.
Plantains are in the same family as bananas. But the skin is thicker, when plantains are green they are used to make: mofongo (Fried and mashed with garlic and pork cracklings); boiled in a thick meat and veggies stew or sancocho, here is the recipe for Sancocho Dominicano; to make fritters or arañitas (grated and then fried); mangú (boiled and mashed); in pasteles en hojas (pasteles are like tamales but with a grated plantain dough) and of course tostones.
When the plantains are yellow they turn softer and sweeter they are often called maduros (ripe) and they are use mashed, fried, in casseroles and a whole lot of recipes we will explore in other posts.
La tostonera
Ok, you’ve bought your plantains already, now what?
What I do is that cut off the ends of the plantain and hold the plantain and using the tip of the knife, slit the peel along the length of the plantain, cut as deep as the peel is thick and remove the plantain skin by pulling it apart from the plantain. Here is the recipe for tostones:
Tostones with garlic mojo
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 2 cups frying oil
- 2 green plantains
- Salt to taste
- Garlic mojo
- 2 tablespoons flat leave parsley finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a medium sized frying pan, heat the oil for frying. (You should have about 3 to 4 inches of oil)
- Then cut the plantain in an inch-thick pieces, you will know your oil is hot when putting the first piece it will begin to bubble around it, if you want to be more thorough, have a thermometer at 320 F – 325 F.
- Fry the slices for about 3 to 4 minutes, until they are lightly colored and cooked. Take them out of the oil and put them over paper towels to drain al excess oil and let them cool down.
- Then tostones are smashed with a tostonera, a gadget to help flattened the tostones, if you have a tortilla press that will do if no the bottom of a wine bottle will do. Individually smashed down to about half their original height.
- Heat again the oil for frying and then place carefully the smashed plantain slices to the oil and cook them about 3 minutes until the edges become golden brown. Remove them from the oil, drain again on paper towels, sprinkle with salt and serve while hot with the garlic mojo.
The garlic mojo
To make the garlic mojo you will need:
2 tablespoons flat leave parsley, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
Mix all the ingredients together, and that’s it. Note:You can always use another fresh herb to do this mojo, like coriander or basil, it's up to you!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
If tostones are comparable to French fries then I know I'm going to love them!! I've never had before, but now I really want to try them and a garlic mojo to serve with? Yes please! I call that Friday night eats 😉 Have a great weekend, Gaila!
Petit Gourmet says
Thank you Dawn, tostones are great, in our house we eat them often, my kids loved tostones. You will love them! I am sure!
Kevin | Keviniscooking says
These look incredible and just like the ones a nearby market serves! I love going to this Caribbean market, it's loaded with all sorts of items I can't find elsewhere. So excited to try this one Gaila!
Petit Gourmet says
Kevin, my darling! thank you!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Oh goodness! I can eat a DANGEROUS amount of tostones, and these look delicious! LOVE that mojo for dipping!! Cheers, girlie!
Petit Gourmet says
Hey Chey! when it comes to tostones nothing is dangerous! Have a great weekend!
karrie @ Tasty Ever After says
I love tostones and make them all the time at home with cilantro chimichurri sauce but trying your garlic mojo next time. I'm trying to eat more low carb and it's great how nicely tostones fit in with that diet. Also, I feel like I'm cheating when I'm not 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Petit Gourmet says
Karrie!! yes tostones are a great low cal addition to any diet!! have a great weekend my darling!
Kate @ Framed Cooks says
You know, I have never had tostones before...but now I have your great recipe, so that ends now! Yay!
Petit Gourmet says
Kate!! you should try them!! thanks for stopping by!
Alma Vorrei says
This looks so yummy….I never cooked with plantains, but I need to try soon.
Petit Gourmet says
They are yummy and crunchy! a singular flavor you haven't tasted before and that you won't find anywhere else!
Ben|Havocinthekitchen says
Honestly, I know only two words from this name - "garlic" and "with" haha. But I like plantain so this recipe sounds good to me!
Agness of Run Agness Run says
Yummy! This is such a palatable recipe. I will have to give it a try, Gaila!
Petit Gourmet says
Thank you Agness! you should try these! they are a favorite in my house!
Jacqueline Rocha says
What's the recepe to make the garlic deep?
Petit Gourmet says
Hello Jacqueline! thank you for stopping by!
To make the garlic mojo you will need:
2 tablespoons flat leave parsley, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons olive oil
Mix all the ingredients together, and that’s it. Note:You can always use another fresh herb to do this mojo, like coriander or basil, it's up to you!
*****
Hola jacqueline ¡Gracias por tu visita!
Para hacer el mojo de ajo necesitarás:
2 cucharadas de perejil plano, finamente picado
2 dientes de ajo, machacados
Sal y pimienta para probar
3 cucharadas de aceite de oliva
Mezcla todos los ingredientes juntos, y eso es todo. Nota: Siempre puedes usar otra hierba fresca para hacer este mojo, como el cilantro o la albahaca, ¡Sólo depende de ti!
Ana says
As Mexican, even though I really like them, I am always afraid of prepare Tostones. This recipe has really inspired me! I’m going to try it!
Petit Gourmet says
Ana!! thanks for stopping by! I am glad you found inspiration here in my blog!! When you make your tostones let me know how it goes!!