Traditional Colombian Patacones (Fried Green Plantains)

Relive the taste of Colombia with this traditional patacones recipe! With a secret healthy twist learned from a good friend of mine, discover how I make this quick ‘oh-so-good’ appetizer a new and exciting staple that will be sure to please the entire family. 

Patacones are made from green plantains, and with the addition of just two other ingredients, we have ourselves a satisfying, crispy and moreish dish that makes bringing authentic Colombian food into your home a breeze. 

It is important however to understand the difference between yellow (ripe) plantains and green (unripe) plantains before you shop for your ingredients. 

Unripe green plantains are starchy and are generally used in savory recipes like my Air Fryer Plantain Chips. However when plantains are ripe and yellow, they give us a sweeter taste, providing the perfect base for desserts like my Platanos Maduros Fritos.

Patacones hold a special place in my heart, and in my kitchen. My husband made traditional patacones for me and our guests the first Christmas dinner we ever hosted as a couple, and I fell in love with their taste and simplicity. However, I was always searching to find a healthier version so I could enjoy them guilt free on a more regular basis. I finally hold the secret and am thrilled to share it with you today!

Ingredients 

• Green plantains: Filled with fiber, potassium and vitamin C, this fruit (which looks very similar to a banana) is the staple of the traditional game-day recipe.
• Vegetable oil: Enough to fill about an inch high of your skillet.
• Salt, to taste

See recipe card for exact quantities

Equipment you will need

• Knife and cutting board
• Skillet
• Paper towels
• Tostonera (or flat-bottomed plate)

Tool spotlight: What is a tostonera?

A tostonera (also called a platano smasher or plantain smasher) is a kitchen tool used to smash and flatten plantains or green bananas to make tostones. It helps quickly and evenly flatten the plantain slices before the second fry.

While not entirely necessary, tostonera helps me make easy work from making tostones or patacones. Using a tostonera makes it much easier to get evenly thin and flat tostones compared to trying to smash them with other kitchen tools.

Step-by-step instructions – Traditional process

Cooking traditional patacones is like assembling a little sandwich. To make patacones, first you fry, then you smash, then you fry again! This is known as a ‘double fry’ process – See the alternative version below to cut down on the oil in my healthier patacone process. 

Begin by peeling your plantains and cutting them crosswise into 1-inch thick slices. While doing this, heat approximately 1-inch of vegetable oil in a skillet or deep fat fryer and let it reach a medium-high heat of around 350°F (175°C).

In batches, transfer your cut plantain into the skillet and fry them until they soften and turn pale yellow. This takes just 2-3 minutes. Do not over soften otherwise they will break and will collapse during the smashing process. 

Once softened and yellow, remove them with a slotted spoon from the pan and drain on paper towels. (Remember keep the hot oil in the pan for the second round of frying!) Continue until all plantain slices have been fried. 

Next, we have fun! You will smash the plantains into a patacone shape using a tostonera. A tostonera is a traditional wooden utensil for smashing plantains and makes the job very easy. If you don’t have one of these, you can also use a flat-bottomed plate or latte mug and it will do the trick!

Once all plantain chunks have been flattened, return them back to the hot oil and fry again for another 2-3 minutes. The plantains should become golden brown and crispy (and smell delicious!)

Remove the plantains from the oil and once again drain them, sprinkling them with salt while still hot. Serve immediately.

Healthier alternative

Ok, ok, let me share the healthy patacones secret… I didn’t forget! 

Rather than frying your plantains twice, you can reduce the oil by following these simple adaptations:

Firstly, wrap your peeled, whole plantains in a wet paper towel. 

Microwave on high for 5 minutes and test (carefully) for softness. The plantains need to be soft to the touch but like mentioned above, not too soft that they collapse. If the plantain is still hard after 5 minutes, continue microwaving in 1-minute increments until the desired softness is achieved.

Once softened, set the plantains aside to cool for approximately 5 minutes or until cool to the touch. 

Once cooled, unwrap the plantains and cut into 1-inch thick slices. Then, like in the process above, smash the pieces of plantain using a tostonera or flat bottomed plate to create the patacone shape. 

Then it’s time to fry! Make sure your oil is hot, then add the flattened plantains in batches into 1-inch of vegetable oil in your skillet until golden and crispy, then remove from the oil and drain. (A couple of minutes per side)

Salt the patacones when warm for best results and serve immediately.

Serving options

These delicious, simple (and healthier) patacones can be served in many ways but are traditionally accompanied with guacamole and pico de gallo. 

Naturally, I have some other exciting serving options for you to try like my ceviche with pear, fennel and mango side dish for a light and tropical flavor. Or if you prefer something with a little spice, try my Aji salsa dip (if you dare!)

More green plantain recipes

Can’t get enough of plantains and want to try more recipes? Instead of frying green plantains, discover a new cooking technique with my baked plantains with guava and cheese recipe or why not try a Latin food twist on a traditional Jewish Hannukah latke? 

More Colombian cuisine to try at home 

Bring more Colombian food to your kitchen with some of my personal favorites, sure to satisfy your cravings for a taste of the south! These authentic arepas con quesos are naturally gluten-free cheesy fritters, often served warm at breakfast time. 

Another ‘must-try’ is my Arepas and hot chocolate recipe which brings traditional Colombian recipes to your home like no other. Discover the diverse tastes and textures as you continue your journey into the best foods Colombia has to offer. 

Recipe