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Native to India, plantains are starchy, low-sugar members of the banana family, and are often used in Western African and Caribbean savory dishes — in fact, some refer to plantains as the pasta and potatoes of Caribbean cookery!
Much like potatoes, plantains aren’t suitable to eat raw, but their flavor and texture vary depending on their ripeness level. You should be able to find plantains in the produce aisle of your local grocery store: they look a lot like bananas, only slightly green and larger, while their interiors are creamy and yellowish, or even light pink. When a plantain’s peel is greenish or yellow, it will taste bland and starchy, whereas the darker the peel turns (it can reach an almost pitch-black hue when fully ripened), the sweeter and more banana-y the plantain tastes.
Curious about how to use this staple Caribbean food? Check out 20 of our favorite plantain-based recipes below, courtesy of the Food Monster App!
1. Spicy Plantains With Rice and Peas
Spicy Plantains With Rice and Peas pack a real punch and always taste so fresh. Scotch bonnets are key to this recipe, but if you can’t find them, just use the hottest chili you can get your hands on.
2. Chocolate Plantain and Banana Waffles
You’ll feel like a magician when you prepare these grain-free Chocolate Plantain and Banana Waffles and freeze them to keep on hand. Simply defrost and heat about ten minutes in the oven and become crispy and delicious! These banana waffles are very rich with a little bit of almond butter and roasted bananas or some chia jam. A simple and nutritious combination for an incredibly satisfying breakfast and easy to make!
3. Chili Coated Plantain Crisps With Lime Ketchup
Chili Coated Plantain Crisps With Lime Ketchup are great for parties, or an afternoon snack and are perfect for when you have a potato chip craving. They are best warm, but if you slice them about half as thick as these, and bake them until they’re extra crispy, you’ll have something very close to a potato chip that will keep and travel well. You can find plantains at most grocery stores now, but they’ll be much more affordable at an Asian or Latino market. Look for ones that are still green; they should be firm without too many brown spots.
4. Plantain Dumpling Soup
Plantain Dumpling Soup has a bit of heat from fiery green chiles, sweetness from the plantains, and a delicate aroma from fresh lemongrass.
5. Fried Plantain French Toast Sandwich
This Fried Plantain French Toast Sandwich is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with notes of warm nutmeg and cinnamon. Serve this French toast sandwich with a drizzle of maple syrup and a side of savory hash browns.
6. Sofrito Zucchini Pasta With Beans and Lightly Fried Plantains
Sofrito Zucchini Pasta With Beans and Lightly Fried Plantains is so easy to make and packed with flavor and smells that’ll sneak up your nose and put a smile on your face. It’s satisfying, interesting, and much different than a traditional Italian pasta sauce.
7. Plantain Sweet Potato Tacos With Guacamole
Plantain Sweet Potato Tacos With Guacamole are exactly as they sound – stuffed with plantains, sweet potatoes, and black beans and topped with a simple guacamole. They’re vegan, gluten-free, and an excellent lunch or dinner option!
8. Baked Plantain Chips
Baked Plantain Chips have all the salty goodness of regular chips but with far fewer calories. They go perfect with sauces and dips or you can snack on them plain. You’re going to be happy either way.
9. Vegetable Curry With Plantains
Vegetable Curry With Plantains is full of healthy nutrients from the plantains and veggies, it also contains good fats from the coconut milk. Give this vegetable curry with plantains a try and find out what it means to have a new favorite curry recipe.
10. Plantain Brownies
Plantains may be a bit unusual in a brownie recipe, but they actually make a perfect base for oil-free baking. They add moisture just like bananas and help bind the brownies together, but don’t affect the flavor the way bananas do. The plantains need to be very ripe—quishy, mushy, almost-black ripe. Plantain Brownies have a light texture and are delicious to nibble warm from the oven or perfect under a scoop of frosty, non-dairy ice cream.
11. Caramelized Plantains With Coconut Cream
Caramelized Plantains With Coconut Cream are the perfect side dish or appetizer. The outsides get crunchy, the insides stay tender, and they’re the perfect balance of savory and sweet. The delicious coconut cream and flakes will transport you straight to your happy place.
12. Coconut Plantain ‘Rice’ Pudding
Coconut Plantain ‘Rice’ Pudding is gluten-free, vegan, Paleo, and like nothing you’ve ever tried before (unless you’ve had plantain rice pudding before, that is). The medium-ripe plantains give the dish a sweetness that’s subtle, not overwhelming. The cinnamon gives the pudding that familiar aroma and comforting taste (like a porridge), and the raisins and coconut add more sweetness and texture.
13. Mangu: Dominican Mashed Plantains
Mangu is a traditional Dominican breakfast dish made from cooked green plantains and savory red onion served hot. This is the perfect dish to start your day!
14. Chewy Plantain Sesame Cookies
The awesome flavors of sesame, plantain, and dates come together to create a Chewy Plantain Sesame Cookies that are both tasty and good for you. So go ahead and indulge!
15. Beans and Plantain Ravioli
Freshly made pasta filled with a lightly spiced mixture of beans and plantain, topped with sautéed red pepper and garlic – yum! It’s easy to make these Beans and Plantain Raviolis look fancy by garnishing with fresh herbs and small mounds of julienned cucumber. The only real effort is getting the pasta dough just right.
16. Cuban Lentil Soup With Baked Plantains and Lemon Crema 
This Cuban Lentil Soup With Baked Plantains and Lemon Crema is so meaty and delicious! This is a robust soup with plenty of vegetables and spiced up with traditional Cuban flavors. Garnished with a lemon-crema and irresistible baked plantains, this dish is warming and full of nutrition!
17. Sweet Potato and Plantain Truffles![Vegan Sugar-Free Truffles, Two Ways [Gluten-Free]](https://i0.wp.com/www.onegreenplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/truffles-rows-close-3.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
These adorable little Sweet Potato and Plantain Truffles are the perfect snacks! These vegan truffles are like little cakey balls of batter with all of the yumminess and none of the baking.
18. Creamy Plantain Stew
Just look at this vibrant Creamy Plantain Stew! Infused with creamy and delicious ingredients like coconut milk and coriander, you can’t go wrong with this simple, but effective recipe.
19. Fried Plantains in Tomato Gravy 
These Fried Plantains in Tomato Gravy are a must-try! Serve this up over rice for the perfect brunch! Green plantains are frequently used as a main ingredient in African dishes. This recipe combines the sweet starchiness of the vegetable pairs well with the indulgent tomato gravy.
20. Jamaican Jerk Plantain Veggie Burgers
These Jamaican Jerk Plantain Veggie Burgers are perfect for summer! These gluten-free burgers made from brown rice, mashed ripe plantain, pecans, and beans will put you on island time in only 30 minutes.
Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home
Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.
For those of you interested in eating more plant-based we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.
Here are some great resources to get you started:
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