Discover the Delicious World of Steamed Plantains

The Delicious World of Steamed Plantains

Plantains are a staple ingredient in many cuisines around the world. While they are often fried, baking or steaming plantains brings out their naturally sweet flavor and soft texture. Steamed plantains make for a hearty, comforting side dish in Haitian, Caribbean, Latin American, and African dishes. When properly prepared, they can be downright addictive!

What are Plantains?

Though they resemble bananas, plantains are part of the banana family but have different properties when it comes to taste and preparation. Green plantains are firm and starchy, requiring cooking to reach an edible state. As they ripen, they turn yellow and then black, becoming sweeter and softer. At all stages of ripeness, unlike dessert bananas, raw plantains are typically cooked before eating.

To steam plantains, it's best to use firm green plantains. Though the skin will be tough, the flesh inside softens into a creamy, sweet treat when steamed. Riper yellow plantains can also be steamed but may turn mushier more quickly.

Preparing Plantains for Steaming

Prepping raw green plantains for steaming takes a bit of work but is well worth the effort. Start by peeling the plantains. A knife works better than trying to peel them by hand. Trim off both ends, then make a slit down the length of the plantain peel. The thick peel should easily pull away from the creamy white flesh inside. Slice the peeled plantain diagonally to increase the surface area for steaming.

Steaming Methods

There are a few easy methods for steaming plantains at home without any special equipment:

• On the stovetop in a steamer basket over boiling water
• In a covered pan with a bit of water
• In the microwave with a bit of water in a covered dish

Steaming plantains takes some patience. For the best texture, they need to steam for 15-20 minutes until fork tender but not mushy. Adding spices to the water, like cinnamon sticks or cloves, can infuse the plantains with extra fragrance and flavor.

Serving Up Steamed Plantains

The simple yet sweet flavor of steamed plantains makes them incredibly versatile. They work well either as the main attraction or as the perfect companion to various Haitian, Caribbean, Latin, and African dishes across breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Breakfast Ideas

For breakfast, steamed green plantains hold up nicely when pan-fried with eggs. Try smashing them to make mofongo, a beloved Puerto Rican and Dominican breakfast pairing fried green plantains with eggs, bacon, onions, garlic, and broth. The sweet creaminess of steamed plantains also balances beautifully with salty proteins like fried fish or salt cod.

Lunch and Dinner Dishes

At lunch and dinner, steamed green plantains shine as comforting sides. Smash them into tostones or patacones and crisp up the discs for a satisfying snack. Shred and saute with onion, garlic, broth and your favorite herbs and proteins to round out stews. Bake chopped steamed plantains with chicken or pork and top with cheese sauce for a scrumptious casserole.

For a simple yet tasty Haitian lunch, try steaming green plantains with salted cod, serving it over rice with sliced avocado and hot sauce. Or make a hearty Caribbean meal of steamed fish with sliced steamed plantains on the side. West African dishes also utilize steamed plantains in soups and stews as well as mashing them into the classic side fufu along with starchy vegetables or tubers.

Sweet Treats

When black ripe plantains are steamed then fried or baked, their high sugar content caramelizes, turning them into a sweet dessert. Try them mashed with coconut flakes, cinnamon and nutmeg or stuffed into puff pastry. Steamed ripe plantains also pair nicely with ice cream for a quick plantain split dessert.

Tips for Perfectly Steamed Plantains

Achieving soft, sweet steamed plantains with an intact texture takes some finesse. Here are some top tips for success:

• Choose green plantains that are very firm with no black spots
• Cut diagonal slices to increase the surface area
• Use a steamer basket if possible for even cooking
• Resist peeking or stirring too frequently
• Check for doneness at 15 minutes then continue steaming if still too firm
• Remove immediately once fork tender to prevent mushiness

With these simple tricks, you'll be serving up sweet and tender steamed plantains in no time. So grab some green plantains and experiment with steaming and incorporating them into your next Haitian, Caribbean, Latin or African inspired dish.