How to Bake Plantains – Sierra Leone Flavours
I have had fried plantains, steamed plantains, boiled plantains, plantain roasted in their skins in charcoal now it is time to turn to these easy baked plantains.
I spend a lot of time thinking about plantain recipes. What you have to understand is that they are one of my favourite ever Sierra Leonean foods and a definite desert island take for me. I make regular treks to Brixton market to stock up and spend the loooooong train ride back to Suffolk plotting all sorts of random plantain eats. And then I go plantain crazy for the next week. It is a good thing for the first few days. But by day four, Freddy tends to look a little bit concerned. 😀
Anyway it turns out that baking plantains in the oven is very easy and much healthier than deep frying them. The next step is to add spices before baking. Hmmmmmm.
The dish you are going to be serving will dictate the colour of the plantain you use. The firmer, bright yellow skinned ones are much more suited to savoury dishes or for people who don’t have a very sweet tooth. The yellow plantains with lots of black spots or even the completely black plantains are going to be much sweeter and better for eating as a dessert.
Here is how to bake plantains in the oven and have fun eating them.
This is the first recipe in my pantry staple spotlight on plantains. Please be sure to check the other recipe out.
Sierra Leone flavours – is the spot on my blog where I share both traditional Sierra Leonean recipes and West African fusion recipes.
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Baked Plantains - Sierra Leone Flavours
Ingredients
- 2 plantains
- Vegetable oil for brushing
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to fan assisted 180C / 200C / 400F / gas 6.
- Peel the plantains and cut into slices on the diagonal.
- Brush both sides of the slices with oil and put on a lightly oiled, lined baking tray and sprinkle on some salt
- Bake for about 25 mins or until golden and the edges start turning brown. Make sure to turn the plantains at least once during baking.
- Serve whilst warm.
Great! My son really like it
I have had plantains fried, steamed, mashed, and baked. All of them a bit on the sweet side, can you recommend a recipe that has some zing, I like sweet and hot. I have tried adding a few different spices like chili powder, cayenne pepper, and curry powder with poor results. Please help me.
Great recipe for healthy snack. Thanks for your beautiful pictures and photos.
Right, next time I see a plantain in the shops I am BUYING it. These look so yummy.
That looks really good! I’ve never had plantains before, and I must admit that when recipes call for them I use bananas instead…
I tried them once and they are really tasty! It’s funny how they look like banana but taste like potato (kinda!) 😀
I’ve never tried them before Bintu, but at least I know what to do with them now 🙂
They sound and look seriously gorgeous. Need to get plantains onto our family menu more!
Hope you guys enjoy them.
I LOVE plantains, any which way whether it’s fried, grilled, baked or as pancakes (tatale). so good!
😀
I LOVE plantains, any which way whether it’s fried, grilled, baked or as pancakes (tatale). so good!
I feel you Jemma.
I’ve never urged l tried sweeter plantains, just the more mealy less ripe ones but I think I’d like sweeter better!
Kavey it all depends on what you are going to be eating the plantains with.
Ah you’ve made me super hungry, these look delicious. I must try them this way.
I’ve never cooked with plantain, only ever tried plantain ‘chips’ may have to give it a go!
Oh these look INCREDIBLE! One of my favorite things to order at Spanish style restaurants!:-)
Now you can try and recreate them yourself Jess.
I fell in love with plantains when we were in Jamaica and there were the most amazing baked plantain chips. I am going to have to try it myself.
Come back and ask any questions that you have Dannii.
These look great – I’ve tried plantain a few times but never cooked it at home. My sister lives in Brixton so next time I’m down, we’ll have to get some and give this recipe a go!
Here is to new eats Gingy Bites
These look delicious! I have seen lots of plantains on the web and really should bite the bullet and some for myself as I saw them for sale in our local Morrisons! I wonder if you have a large branch nearer to you than London where you could find them?
Camilla , please, please, please do buy yourself some plantains and comeback and talk to me about recipes.
I adore plantains – I usually toss in olive or coconut oil. Especially baked in the oven as they caramelise so nicely, though my favourite recent ways to enjoy them is as pancakes!
Yes they do work really well as pancakes right?
I’ve never tried plantain either and having heard so much about them from you, I really want to. I have no idea where we could buy them down our way, I suspect we can’t. But one day ….
I am starting to find them in some larger regional supermarkets.
Bintu, I’m ashamed to admit this, but I’ve never tasted plantain.
However, I’m going shopping today & am going to pop into the Asian supermarket to see if I can pop my plantain cherry 😉
Janie x
I await the plantain cherry popping results :D.