15-Minute Pan-Fried Sweet Plantains (Maduros)
I don’t know about you, but growing up in a Cuban family, the only vegetables I remember having on my plate were fried. Ha! While most families served broccoli and carrots as side dishes, we had yuca con mojo and crispy tostones.
But I’ll tell you, if I had to choose a favorite side dish, it would be these sweet fried plantains. In Cuban cuisine, sweet plantains, known as “platanos maduros,” are the perfect complement to any savory meal.
If you’ve ever had a sliced banana with your Cuban picadillo, then you know exactly what I’m talking about!
Sweet plantains are a staple in Cuban Cuisine, making them the perfect side dish for any meal.
Let me show you how to make them!
5-Star Review
“I was so scared to make this but was amazed as to how easy it was to make maduros. I have loved maduros ever since I was a kid. I made mine with a fried egg and some refried beans on the side for a nice desayuno.”
—Manny
Ripening Plantains For Maduros
It takes about 10 days for a green plantain to be fully ripe and ready for sweet plantains.
- If you need to ripen a plantain quicker, you can either place them in a brown paper bag for a few days OR you can place them in the oven, unpeeled, at 300ºF for 20 minutes.
- To STOP plantains from ripening: If it’s been longer than 10 days and you’re not yet ready to make sweet plantains, you can place the ripe plantains in the fridge to stop the ripening process.
Recommended For This Recipe
10 Inch Skillet
A 10-inch skillet perfect for cooking all kinds of dishes! It’s non-stick, with a wide flat bottom for frying, sautéing, or browning.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Making sweet plantains is pretty straightforward. Since we will be frying the sliced ripe plantains, you should use oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable oil or canola oil.
I absolutely love serving maduros next to arroz con fijoles and pollo asado, or any protein, honestly. Whenever you want to add some sweetness to any savory dish, that’s when sweet plantains are one of the best Cuban side dishes!
Sweet plantains vs Tostones
By the way, there is a difference between sweet plantains and twice-fried plantains (tostones). Both of these are made from green plantains, but they differ in how they are prepared as well as in texture and flavor.
Flavor & Texture
- Sweet plantains are made from green plantains that have turned yellow or black (meaning they have ripened). They have a sweet flavor with a soft, tender texture, similar to bananas.
- Tostones are made from green, unripe plantains, just like my mariquitas. They have a starchy, mild flavor with a firm texture.
Preparation
- Sweet Plantains are peeled and sliced diagonally, then fried in a bit of oil until golden brown and caramelized.
- Tostones are peeled, sliced into rounds, and fried until partially cooked. Then, they are removed from the oil, flattened with a tostonera, and fried again until crispy.
Making Sweet Plantains In The Air Fryer
To make sweet plantain in the air fryer, place the sliced plantains in the air fryer basket, spray with cooking spray, and cook for about 8-10 minutes at 380ºF.
Depending on your air fryer, you may need more or less cooking time. You may also need to cook them in batches. Adjust accordingly.
15-Minute Fried Sweet Plantains (Platanos Maduros)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large ripe plantains, (the darker the skin, the sweeter they will be)
- Oil, (high smoke point)
- Salt
Instructions
- Start by cutting the ends off the plantains with a sharp knife. Using the tip of the knife, make a shallow cut lengthwise along the plantain. Gently peel the skin off with your fingers. It should come off easily since they are soft (ripe).
- Using a sharp knife, slice the plantains, diagonally, about 1/2-inch thick. Make sure they are all as close to the same size as possible so they cook evenly.
- Over medium-high heat, pan-fry the sliced plantains until they're golden brown and the edges are crispy. Depending on the size and thickness of the slices, this can take anywhere from 3 minutes per side to 5 minutes per side.
- Transfer the fried plantains to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season them with salt and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Hi there! I’d love to make these but I currently only have olive oil at home, would that work or should I go and get something different?
Recipe was good. I over cooked them a bit. How do I make them so they glycine like yours? They almost look wet. How do I get ones that are dried out looking?
So glad you liked it! If you’re aiming for a drier, firmer texture, slice the ripe plantains thinner and cook them at higher heat with less oil. Totally different result, but, to be honest, sweet plantains are meant to be soft, caramelized, and a little shiny!
Worked out great for me and so easy. I went a little too long on the first batch. It was crispy but still delicious. 3 minutes per side is about right.
Can I make a morning breakfast dish with eggs and sausage and plantains?
Yes! That sounds like a delicious breakfast!
great Recipe. Made it just like you said and they were delicious. the plantains were black ripe. Just perfect for this recipe!
Absolutely delicious/enjoyable will definitely be making them again
Soy un amante de la exquisita comida cubana, felicitaciones por su bloc espero sigan adelante pues me encataria seguir viendo sus recetas. Gracias y VIVA LA COMIDA CUBANA.
Me alegro que te gusto! Gracias!
I was so scared to make this but was amazed as to how easy it was to make maduros. I have loved maduros ever since I was a kid. I made mine with a fried egg and some refried beans on the side for a nice desayuno.
I love Cuban foods