Mexican healthy air fryer tostones recipe

Crispy, crunchy tostones without the oil or effort - air fryer tostones. Traditional tostones are an indulgent treat found throughout Latin America and the Caribbean that are prepared by frying green plantains twice. Tostones in the air fryer give you all the same amazing textures and flavors without the hassle or grease of double frying.

These air fryer tostones are a lighter version of traditional Colombian tostones and truly one of the easiest tostones recipes around, made in minutes and with only two ingredients in your air fryer basket. Make this as an easy appetizer for your next gathering, or a healthy snack to munch on at home!

What are Plantains?

Plantains are a starchy fruit that are closely related to bananas. Although they originated in Southeast Asia, plantains are an integral part of various cuisines around the world. Filled with fiber, potassium, and Vitamin C, I love cooking with plantains because they’re healthy and so incredibly versatile.

When they’re ripe and yellow, plantains have a wonderfully sweet flavor that’s great for desserts like Colombian Platanos Maduros Fritos.

However, unripe green plantains are starchy and can be made into savory snacks like Air Fryer Plantain Chips and these Colombian tostones. 

The Benefits of Cooking Tostones in the Air Fryer

If you haven't guessed it by now, I just love making air fried plantains, in all shapes, colors and levels of ripeness. 

Cooking tostones in the air fryer is such a great method for preparing this tasty dish. 

Not only do they come out perfectly golden brown each time, but they’re so delicious this way. I also love not having to worry about a greasy clean up or spending tons of time deep frying. With an air fryer, this easy tostones recipe is fast enough to add to a weeknight dinner or enjoy as a midday snack.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Tostones?

There are really no wrong ways to serve air fryer tostones. You can enjoy the tostones simply on their own or add your favorite dipping sauce to the mix. A combination of mayonnaise and ketchup is a popular choice, but I’m a big fan of pairing salsa verde, pico de gallo, Colombian ají, or even guacamole with my tostones. To make a light meal, make them alongside a batch of Colombian ceviche or a fun side dish to Colombian chicken drumsticks.

Prep the plantains

Begin by preheating your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a few minutes.

While waiting for the air fryer to heat up, start preparing the plantains. Trim off the ends of the plantains and make a shallow lengthwise cut on each, just enough to break through the skin. Remove the plantain skins by gently peeling them away from the flesh using your thumb. Cut the peeled plantains into slices about 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick.

Cooking the Tostones

To prevent sticking, line your air fryer basket with air fryer liners or parchment paper. Apply a light coating of cooking spray to the liners.

Arrange the plantain slices in a single layer within the lined air fryer basket, ensuring they slightly overlap without overcrowding. Spritz the tops of the plantain slices with cooking spray and sprinkle them with regular table salt.

Insert the basket into the preheated air fryer and cook for approximately 10 minutes.

Smash the tostones

Now comes the all-important part of pressing the tostones. Tostones are twice fried plantains, and this is what makes this recipe unique!

Once 10 minutes have passed, carefully remove the plantain slices from the air fryer. Arrange them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or a paper towel. Cover them with another layer or parchment paper, and press on the tostones with a large casserole dish, until they become thinner, flatter and wider, and lose their defined shape.

Fry a second time

Flip the tostones using tongs or a fork, and return them to the air fryer. Apply a light coating of cooking spray and sprinkle regular table salt on the other side.

Place the basket back in the air fryer and continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes until the tostones achieve a golden brown and crispy texture.

Finishing Touches

Remove the cooked tostones from the air fryer and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

While the tostones are still warm, generously sprinkle them with flaky sea salt, such as Maldon sea salt. This will add a delightful contrast to the crispy texture.

Serving

Serve air-fryer tostones alongside your preferred pico de gallo and Colombian aji for dipping. Enjoy them as a delectable snack or as a side dish to complement your main course.

Note: If you do not possess an air fryer, you can achieve similar results by cooking the tostones in a skillet with a small amount of oil until they turn golden brown on both sides. Adjust the cooking time as necessary.

Storage

Tostones are really best when they’re hot and fresh out of the air fryer. However, you can store leftover tostones in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. The leftovers will be slightly less crispy than the originals, but still heat up nicely after being placed in the air fryer for 3 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Variations for Air Fryer Tostinos

• Baked Tostones - If you want a healthier alternative to fried tostones, but don’t have an air fryer, then try baked tostones instead. Start by trimming off the ends of the plantains and lightly scoring the backs of each. Add the plantains to the microwave for about 5 minutes or until they’re soft in the middle. Peel, cut, and smash the plantains before adding them to a lined baking sheet. Cook for 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping the plantains halfway through.

More Plantain Dishes

For more plantain dishes, try these equally easy and delicious air fryer plantain chips or platanos maduros fries. You can also try this plantain latkes with lime crema sauce or baked plantains with guava and cheese for something sweet.

More Air Fryer Recipes

If you want to put that air fryer to good use, here are some of my favorite recipes to make it! You can't go wrong with these delicious air fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, which are super sticky, gooey and unbelievably easy. For vegetarian air-fryer-friendly options, see my crispy air fryer tofu or cheese bites in the air fryer. If you want to add some veggies to your dinner, try roast air fryer asparagus.