Baked plantain is a delicious and very easy-to-make Caribbean dish made with just 3 ingredients. If you are looking for an easy and healthy snack recipe then this oven-baked ripe plantain recipe is perfect for you. It's vegan and gluten-free.
I love making hassle-free, simple dishes that taste good too. And, today's Caribbean-style sweet baked plantain recipe is just like that.
It's made with 3 basic ingredients and doesn't need more than 5 minutes of yours. You just need to peel the plantains, mix all the ingredients, and then leave them in the oven to get baked.
Another good thing about this dish is that it doesn't have any added sugar, the sweetness comes from ripe plantains. So, if you like eating healthy then also this snack is a good option for you.
What's needed to make baked plantain?
To make this Caribbean-baked plantain, you need just three ingredients which are shown below:
Ingredient notes
- Plantain: As we are not adding any extra sweetener to baked plantain and the sweetness will come only from the plantain, use a ripe and sweet plantain. If you use unripe plantain, it will taste bland. However, if you are making a savory version of this dish, under-ripe plantains can be used too.
- Cinnamon: If you prefer any other ingredient to flavor your dessert, you can use that too like vanilla extract.
- Vegetable oil: Generally, to make this dish people use vegetable oil. You can use canola or any neutral-flavored oil too. Coconut oil can also be used if you like its taste, it's a much healthier oil too.
Plantain Vs Banana
A lot of people get confused between plantain and banana, and also don't know if they are different names for the same fruit or two different fruits.
Though plantain and banana look quite similar and come from the same plant family, they have some differences too.
- The main difference is that plantains are starchier than bananas which gives them a slight bite whereas bananas are very soft.
- Plantains are firmer than bananas and don't lose shape easily on getting cooked as bananas do.
- Bananas are generally sweeter than plantain.
How to make(step-by-step instructions)?
Step 1: Peel the plantains, chop the ends off and cut the plantain into around ½-inch slices.
Step 2: Spread a baking sheet on a baking tray. Brush some oil on the sheet.
Step 3: Place the plantain slices in a single layer on the sheet.
Step 4: Brush plantain slices with some oil.
Step 5: Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top.
Step 6: Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for around 30 minutes.
Your baked plantain is ready to be enjoyed!
How to serve?
Traditionally, it's served as a side dish with different Caribbean stews.
I generally prefer having it as a snack so I enjoy them with a dipping sauce on the side. Even simple dips like Greek yogurt, Nutella, and cream cheese taste good with it.
How to store?
To store, put in an airtight container and refrigerate for around 5 days.
Can you freeze baked plantain?
Yes, you can freeze baked plantain.
To freeze, spread them in a single layer on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Freeze for 3-4 hours. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe container with a lid or Ziploc bag. Put back in the freezer, and freeze for up to 4 months.
Reheating tips
- Reheating the refrigerated baked plantain: To reheat, either microwave for 30-60 seconds i.e. until heated, or, bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C (around 350°F) for around 10-15 minutes or until heated again.
- Reheating the frozen baked plantain: To reheat frozen baked plantain, thaw them first and then evenly spread on a baking tray lined with a baking sheet. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180°C (around 350°F) for around 15 minutes or until nicely reheated.
More flavoring options
- You may add more spices of your choice to flavor sweet baked plantains like nutmeg or pumpkin spice mix.
- Vanilla extract can also be mixed with oil and then used to flavor the plantains.
- If you prefer a savory snack, use a slightly less ripen plantain and flavor it with some salt and black pepper. You may add more ingredients for more flavor like garlic powder, red chili powder, different seasoning mix, etc.
Recipe tips and tricks
- To make this dish, use ripe plantain which is already sweet enough as no extra sweetener is added to it.
- If you feel the sweetness of plantain is not enough for you, drizzle some honey, agave syrup, or any other sweetener of your choice, on top, once the plantains are baked.
- You may follow the same recipe to make savory baked plantains. In that case, use under-ripe plantain and flavor it with salt, pepper, and other spices of choice.
Frequently asked question
No, these baked plantains are not crispy. They are softer with a slight bite.
Yes, you can freeze ripe plantains. Just peel them and cut into smaller pieces. Transfer to a Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
Other healthy snack recipes
Looking for other healthy, guilt-free snack recipes? Don't miss checking the following links:
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Recipe
Baked plantain
Equipment
- Oven
- baking tray
Ingredients
- 3 ripe plantains
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Peel the plantains, chop the ends off, and cut into around ½-inch slices.
- Line a baking tray with a baking sheet. Brush some oil on it.
- Place the plantain slices in a single layer on the sheet. Brush them with some oil.
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon on top.
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200°C (400°F) for around 30 minutes.
- Once the plantains turn golden brown, switch off the oven and take out the baking tray.
- Allow reaching room temperature and then enjoy!
Video
Notes
- These baked plantains will have mild natural sweetness. If you prefer it sweeter, drizzle some honey, agave syrup, or any other sweetener of choice, once the plantains are baked.
- Instead of vegetable oil, coconut oil can also be used. That will be a healthier version too.
- To make it savory, replace cinnamon with salt and pepper.
- More detailed recipe tips and tricks are given in the post above. Please follow them to make this recipe.
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