Plantain Fries

5 from 1 vote

Published Mar 10, 2018

Updated Mar 18, 2024

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What could be better than french fries? Plantain Fries! Especially when they are baked and therefore better for you. These plantain fries are sweet, crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. Enjoy them with a simple sprinkle of salt or sprinkle on some French fries seasoning.

Plantain Fries served with African Pepper Sauce.

I love plantains! It’s one of those things I always NEED in my kitchen because they are so versatile.

They can be boiled, fried, grilled, made into one pot meals, made into yummy snacks, enjoyed for breakfast, lunch or dinner! I already have a plethora of plantain recipes here on the blog and there are more to come because plantains are a superfood in my books!

You’ll love these tasty fries whether you are familiar with plantains or not.

Why You’ll Love Plantains
Chef’s Tip
How To Make Plantain Fries
Serving
Plantain Fries Video

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
More Plantain Recipes
More Homemade Fries
Healthy Baked Plantain Fries Recipe

Why You’ll Love Plantains

Plantains are rich in nutrients. Plantains are rich in potassium and magnesium. They are also high in fiber, vitamins A, C and B-6. They help build the brain and boost immunity so if plantains are not yet a part of your diet, you better start eating them!

Plantains are versatile. These days, I have re-discovered plantains. These days of my clean eating challenge, plantains have literally saved me! They work in almost every recipe that requires flour because they bind so well together. And though plantains are a starchy vegetable, they loaded with nutrients so it’s all good.
They pair well with many sides. Truth be told, I could eat plantain fries every single day with different things on the side. There’s just something about the slightly sweet, savory, plantain-y taste they bring to my palate.

Chef’s Tip

The key here is to use plantains that are semi-ripe for the best texture and flavor. If your plantains are too ripe, they will turn out mushy. If they are unripe, they will be hard and the taste will miss that touch of sweetness.

So semi-ripe is the route to go. Semi-ripe plantains yield fries that are sufficiently crunchy. They are so yum!

For the full list of ingredients with measurements, check out the recipe card below.

How To Make Plantain Fries

Peel and cut plantains into fries.
Toss with salt and neutral oil.
Bake in a preheated oven until done.

I prefer baking my fries but you could deep fry them as well. Either way, they are delicious!

Serving

Here are some sides you can enjoy these plantain fries with:

Plantain Fries with dipping sauce and wings.

So go ye forth and enjoy all the plantain fries you can!

Close up of fries made with semi-ripe plantains.

Plantain Fries Video

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Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

Do fried plantains taste like potatoes?

Not at all. Fried plantains have their own unique flavor that is different from potatoes. Plantains have a mild starchy flavor and when they start to ripen, they have a sweet flavor.

Do fried plantains taste good?

Yes, absolutely! Fried plantains are really tasty whether they are fried green, ripe, or semi-ripe. Be sure to check out the plantain recipes below for lots of ideas of what to cook with plantains.

Can you eat raw plantains?

Green plantains have to be eaten cooked. They can be boiled or grilled. On the other hand, ripe plantains can be eaten raw, but make sure they are completely ripe and soft before you eat them.

More Plantain Recipes

Sweet Fried Plantains

How To Make Plantain Chips

TOSTONES RECIPE – TWICE-FRIED PLANTAINS

HOW TO GRILL PLANTAINS

More Homemade Fries

Love these plantain fries? Also check out the following homemade fries recipes:

Crispy Yuca Fries (Cassava Fries)

Loaded French Fries

Fried Potatoes and Eggs Breakfast Recipe (+VIDEO)

If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe plus I love hearing from you! Thank you!

Healthy Baked Plantain Fries

5 from 1 vote

Plantain fries are (I dare say) tastier than potato fries. My fries are completely cooked in the oven, ready in no time, crunchy on the outside and tender on the outside.

Prep: 10

Cook: 20

Total: 30

Servings: people

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Ingredients

▢ 3 plantains – semi ripe see Note 1
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 1/8 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
Use a knife to cut the stem and tip of the plantains. Cut a line across the ridges of a plantain then lift the skin from the cut portion and remove the entire skin with your hands. Cut the plantains into fries. (Watch the video to see how I cut them into fries.)
Place the plantains in a bowl. Add the oil and salt then toss to combine. Place the plantain slices on a baking tray. Spread to ensure that they are all in a single layer.
Place the plantains in preheated oven then bake for 20 minutes. Flip halfway through.
Serve warm with your favorite side or sauce!

Notes

1. The plantains I use here are ripe but not completely yellow. They are between green and yellow – this means they are slightly green and slightly yellow. I find that these are the kind of plantains that work best for baked plantain fries. They are crunchy enough with the perfect texture. If you choose to use completely ripe plantains, note that they won’t turn out crunchy. On the other hand, green (unripe) plantains might turn out too hard. So go with semi-ripe plantains.

2. I find that these plantain fries are best eaten as soon as they are out of the oven. When they get cold, they become hard.

3. If you have leftovers, save them in a Ziploc bag and store in the fridge. Then you can reheat for about a minute in the microwave and enjoy.