If you love Patacones but not the calories, this easy air fryer recipe is for you. Traditionally, patacones are green deep fried plantains; they are crunchy and delicious but very calorie dense because they are fried two times.
Patacones and Tostones are basically the same thing, the name just changes depending on the country. In Colombia and Panama they are called Patacones, in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic called them Tostones.
I decided to make these in the air fryer and I love how they turned out. These only use a fraction of the oil that the regular patacones use and they are still crunchy and flavorful.
Green plantains are very popular and easy to find at your local grocer. Look for plantains that are firm to the touch and have green skin.
What do you serve with Patacones
Patacones are great on their own. In Colombia we serve them with coconut rice and fish, but they also make great appetizers and finger food.
They are a great substitute for corn chips so you can serve them with your favorite salsa, dip or traditional guacamole. I particularly love them with a good guac!
Tips
- Make sure your plantain is green and firm to the touch. If the plantain is ripe is too slippery to make patacones but you can make maduritos.
- Don't smash the plantain too thin because it can break when transferring them to the air fryer.
- Don't crow them in the air fryer to allow even cooking
- Smash your plantain when they are still warm if they cool down too much they will break apart when smashing them
Air Fryer Patacones
Ingredients
- 2 Unripe green plantains
- 2 tablespoons oil avocado oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cut the ends of the plantains
- Cut a side of the skin of the plantain and proceed to peel it by hand. The skin should come off easily.
- Cut the plantains in ½ inch rounds and add them to a dish with the oil to coat them
- Add them to the air fryer at 350 Fahrenheit for 5 minutes
- Add a piece of clean plastic such as a ziplock and put the plantains in between the plastic
- Smash them with a plate or tortilla press
- Air Fry the plantains at 350 Fahrenheit for 5 minutes until golden brown
- Use a paper towel to get rid of excess oil and serve them with guacamale, salsa or your favorite dip
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