It’s juicy, sweet, and yellow. It’s no doubt a must-have on every African Food Store Online like AfroBasket. And no, I’m not talking about bananas. Today, I bring to you its half-brother, plantain.
While most people in Europe and the US are familiar with the regular bananas, folks from African and Caribbean countries might have more experience with enjoying the succulent taste of a well-fried plantain dish.
So, today, AfroBasket would walk you through some of the things you need to know about plantains, why you should consume more of them, and some of the best ways you can cook them.
Let’s dive in!
Getting Started
Don’t be deceived by its enticing banana-like outer layer. Plantains are less sweet and contain more starch than bananas. While they are not as popular in the United States and Europe, they are essential for home dishes in tropical countries.
You can find plantains all over the Caribbean and Central America. However, they are more indigenous to the tropical regions of Southeast Asia.
With that said, I should also mention that plantains are often cooked before consumption. Unlike bananas, they don’t taste so good when eaten directly. In fact, they taste pretty awful raw, so don’t be deceived by the succulent yellow looks.
I guess it goes without saying that plantains are like some sort of superfood. It is rich in fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
So, it makes for an equally sumptuous and healthy dish.
Banana vs. Plantain
What are the odds? Banana, plantain, same thing!
Right?
WRONG!
While both items share a similar look, bananas tend to have a long, slender shape and are often coated in thick yellow skin. Although there are different kinds of bananas, the yellow variant is the most common.
Bananas are pretty sweet!
They can be eaten raw or cooked. Its edible flesh also becomes sweeter, darker, and softer as it ripens.
Plantains, on the other hand, are mostly larger and tougher than bananas. They also come with much thicker skin. You can find different variants such as green, yellow, and dark brown.
Whatever you do, try not to eat raw plantain!
You need to cook it as a dish to enjoy the best taste.
How to make the best dishes from Plantain
Latin, Caribbean, and African cuisines feature diverse variations of plantain dishes. Often, they are mostly served as a savory side dish or even as part of an entrée.
It can be consumed at any stage of its ripening. But you would have to peel off the back with a knife before cooking.
A standard method is to slice and fry the plantain in mildly deep vegetable oil. It is often fried till it turns golden brown. However, if fried for longer, you can make it into chips. Crunchy and sweet!
It can also be boiled, mashed, and eaten with a sauce, soup, or stew.
You should watch out for our next blog post, where we would give you some of the top recipes for making scintillating plantain dishes.
Why you should order Plantain from Afrobasket African Food Store today
Afrobasket African Food Store offers you sweet and bright yellow plantain at an affordable price. You should try it out with fresh vegetables and some beef.
More than its fantastic taste, it can also help with weight loss. Yes! People who eat more fibre have more chance of losing as much weight as people on a low-fat diet. And plantain is rich in fibre.
It can also help boost your immune system and fight against diabetes!
So, what are you waiting for? Place your order now at afrobasket.co.uk.
