Tostones

Need a great side dish? A scoop for your rice? The perfect accouterments to eggs and chorizo?  A little extra something to put on that jalapeno burger? Then you want tostones. They are delicious and very versatile!! I learned how to make them when we were living in Florida, and have since made some small changes to make them my own. They are so easy it will surprise you.

You will need:

3-4 plantains (platanos) (I prefer green, but if you want them sweet like sweet potatoes, then go with yellow.)
Vegetable Oil for frying
Salt or Garlic Salt

Directions:

- Cut the platanos into 4-5 pieces each.                                          
- Slice into the skin down to the fruit (make it the length of the pieces)
- Peel off the skin between slices to make naked little platanos.
- Put oil in your fryer (or a large cast iron pot)
- Heat your deep fryer to 390 degrees (or put the pot on the stove over med-high heat and wait about 8 minutes. BE CAREFUL OF BURNS!!)

- Place the platano pieces (as many as you can fit without them being cramped) into a metal basket and fry for about 3 minutes.

-  Remove from oil and dump onto a plate covered in 2-3 paper towels.

- DO NOT turn fryer off.

- When they have cooled for a minute or two, take one piece at a time, place on a clean counter or cutting board, and smash it down flat with the back of a hard, sturdy pan. Press down hard.

- You will now have big, flat pieces. 

- Place one or two pieces in the basket at a time, lower into the oil, and fry for about 5 minutes.

- Remove from oil onto the paper towels, sprinkle with salt or garlic salt (whichever you prefer with whatever you're eating them with), and allow to cool for a few minutes.

- Enjoy!! <3