Salty, crunchy tostones get an update in the air fryer! Skip the greasy frying method and instead toss them in a little oil and “double fry” them in your air fryer. Serve them with a simple yet delicious mayo ketchup sauce.
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Food is famous for reminiscing. On our first date (which was at my house), I cooked tostones—twice fried, mashed plantains—for the man who would be my husband.
“You look just like my grandmother when you do this,” he said.
Years later he told me that was the moment he knew he was going to marry me.
What are Tostones?
Tostones (aka Patacones in some Latin American countries) comforts those who grew up with it. Similar to North American potato chips, Tostones are green (unripe) plantains that are fried until tender, then mashed and fried again.
They are basically a snack and are commonly served as an accompaniment or appetizer to a heavier meal or enjoyed by school children as an afternoon snack.
What are plantains?
Plantains are a type of banana that need to be cooked because of the amount of starch they contain. Like bananas, green plantains are unripe and yellow plantains are ripe. not how a banana, plantains in their uncooked state are slimy and tasteless; Eating a raw plantain is like eating a hard paste. It’s not a pretty sight or taste.
Unripe, green plantains are more like potatoes than bananas: high in starch, low in sugar . This means that bananas cannot replace plantains because of their higher sugar content. They just don’t stick together for this recipe. (And plantains can’t replace bananas in Aunt Ethel’s famous banana pudding recipe because they’re so bland and fibrous.)
When in doubt, just remember: the plantains need to be cooked.
How to pick and peel a plantain
The plantains used for tostones should be rich green in color and very firm. Avoid plantains with a lot of yellow in the peel as they have already started to ripen and taste sweeter.
Peeling a green plantain is easy. Cut off both ends of the plantain before scoring the peel on the plantain’s “spine”. Use the fleshy parts of your thumbs to remove the plantain’s fibrous husk.
How to make Tostones in the Air Fryer
Tostones are traditionally pan fried, but I’ve started air frying them (much to my doctor’s delight). It reduces the fat and mess (no oil splatters) but still gives crispy tostones.
If you’d rather fry yours, It’s just a matter of completing each of the frying steps with vegetable oil heated to 375°F. Make sure to drain your tostones on paper towels after each frying.
- New to the air fryer? Check out our beginner’s guide to using an air fryer.
How to Flatten Tostones
Most Latin American homes have at least one tostonera in their kitchens. This tool is used to flatten the soggy plantain pieces. Tostoneras are used almost exclusively to make tostones, and are often used as wall art in many homes as well.
Although Tostoneras are fairly cheap, it might not be a good idea to buy one unless you’re making Tostoneras on a regular basis. Place your soft plantain between a piece of parchment paper (or a brown paper bag) and smash it with a coffee mug to achieve the same result.
What to serve with tostones?
A dipping sauce made from mayonnaise and ketchup, colloquially known as “mayoketchu,” is the most popular condiment served with tostones. Some people also enjoy a heated garlic oil known as ajillo. It’s made by combining two cloves of minced garlic, a pinch of salt, and a quarter cup of warmed olive oil. Garlic oil is not used that often as the flavor can be quite strong.
Make Ahead Tips for Tostones
Tostones are cooked in two stages: the par-frying, which is followed by the final “crispy” frying.
The first roasts can be prepared ahead of time, which is helpful if you plan to cook a lot to serve a larger crowd. To preserve the crispiness of the tostones, the last roast should be done just before serving.
If friends are late to the party and you need to keep the tostones warm, place them on a baking sheet in a 175°F oven.
Storage and Freezing of Tostones
Leftover Tostones can be stored in a food container in the refrigerator for 24 hours and reheated in a 350°F degree oven until heated through, or refried in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
However, the quality and crispiness will be significantly compromised, so I recommend only making what you intend to eat on the same day.
If you want to have tostones on hand for those last minute cravings, flatten the fried plantains and allow them to cool completely. Seal them in a freezer bag for up to two months. Thaw them completely before you fry them in the air fryer for the last time.
Need more snack ideas?
- Potato chips from the oven
- How to make homemade tortilla chips
- Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas
- Herb-spiced nut mix
- BBQ Bacon Jalapeno Poppers
Tostones air fryer
ingredients
For the dipping sauce:
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1 Cup mayonnaise
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1/4 Cup Ketchup
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1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For the tostones:
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3 Middle green plantains
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4 cups water
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1 tablespoon kosher salt
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3 tablespoon cook neutral oil (vegetablespeanut or coconut oil)
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Rough Salt to sprinkle
method
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Prepare dipping sauce
Whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, and garlic powder. Store covered in the fridge until ready to serve. You can do this up to 48 hours in advance.
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Peel and cut plantains
Remove the ends of the green plantains with a sharp knife. Slice the plantain down the back and use the fleshy part of your thumbs to push the peel up and away from the plantain.
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Preheat your air fryer to 350°F.
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Soak the levels
Combine 4 cups of cold water and 1 tablespoon of kosher salt. Cut plantains into 1 1/2 inch thick pieces and soak in water for 20 minutes. (Soaking the plantains prevents browning and keeps the air fried plantains from drying out during cooking.
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Dry the plantains and then fry them
Take the plantains out of the water and dry them thoroughly. In a bowl, toss the plantain slices with 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Make sure each plantain is coated in a thin layer of oil.
Place the plantains in the basket of your air fryer. Organize it in a single layer, leaving 1/2 inch space on all sides of the slices for proper air circulation. Fry until the plantain no longer resists when pierced with the tip of a knife. This can take anywhere from 3 to 6 minutes per side.
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Mash the plantains
Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 400°F. Carefully remove the plantain slices from the basket and mash each one in a tostonera, or place your soft plantain between a piece of parchment paper (or a brown paper bag) and smash with a coffee mug. The plantain should be a flat 1/4 inch thick slice that will hold together.
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Air fry the mashed plantains
Return the mashed plantains to the Airfryer basket (you may have to work in batches depending on the size of your basket).
Brush a thin layer of oil on top of the tostones and fry on the first side for 3 minutes. Turn the tostones over and brush again with a thin layer of oil, then fry for the last time for 4 minutes instead of 3 minutes.
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Season the tostones
Immediately after removing from the hot air fryer. Serve the tostones with the mayo ketch sauce while they are still hot.
| nutritional information (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 138 | calories |
| 10g | Fat |
| 12g | carbohydrates |
| 0g | protein |
