Back from vacation and back from a long weekend. Hope everyone had a relaxing fun Thanksgiving weekend, and that you got some great deals on Black Friday! I did and it is my new inspiration for this weeks blog. Hope you enjoy this short, simple and delicious recipe for Plantain Crunchies.

Plantains

First a bit about plantains. These are the extra large bananas (3-10 inches), commonly used in Central and South America as a side dish. They are fried or boiled or stuffed and are similar to a potato or other starchy vegetable. When eaten green they are neutral in taste, however if you eat them when ripe they are slightly sweet.

Plantains are very high in fiber, have a high source of vitamins A, B6, and C. They are high in potassium and and magnesium and also help decrease homocysteine (stress). Lots of good nutrition and very filling with only small amounts.

Air Fryer

I have been in debate with myself for months deciding if I really need another kitchen appliance. I have been eyeing the airfryer and trying to narrow down which one is best for me and if I really need it. After a lot of research and reviews from friends and online, I finally decided I definitely want one and picked the Cuisinart Airfryer Toaster oven.

I chose it because I read that this is the best way to get crispy food, as there is a larger surface area (because pan is big and flat vs small and deep). I also liked that it toasts, bakes and air fries all in 1 unit. Kind of like the instant pot that does so many things all in one. Since I have a small kitchen the counter real estate is critical, so the more 1 appliance does the better.

I got a great deal on it for black friday and all weekend played around testing and trying it out. So far I love it because I get crispy delicious food using minimal oil which is healthy, and no fried smell in the house. I bring to you today a very simple and very quick recipe but a good one – Plantain Crunchies.

These Plantain Crunchies are a great alternative to bread. I use plantains a lot for several things, however I hate that they use unhealthy oils to make the chips, or croutons. Also when I make my own it is always a process of frying and baking which takes time, and smells up my house. So naturally my first recipe test was to make my own croutons out of plantains with a drop of avocado oil. Guilt free, perfect in soups, salads or just as a snack. Hope you love them as much as I do. Happy Cooking!

Ingredients

1-2 green plantains

1 tbsp avocado oil

sea salt

Directions

This recipe is so simple and quick but it is worth making. You can make a huge batch, or just make 1 plantain and eat it on the spot. I make 1-2 plantains of croutons and store them in an airtight container to have ready to eat. This amount equals to about 1 – 1 1/2 cups of croutons.

To start, carefully peel plantain. They are hard so I cut tips off and then slice peel only lengthwise in 2-3 parts, and pull peel off. Once peeled I slice plantain lengthwise in 3-4 thin slices. Then I take each slice and cut into small cubes.

Place cubes plantains in a bowl with 1 tbsp of avocado oil and sprinkle with salt (about 1 tsp). Mix well to ensure all pieces are coated.

Place plantains on airfryer rack and bake at 350 F on air fry for about 7 min. Check on them after 5 min, and stir them on tray. If they are not crisp then keep baking. They cook super fast so watch them.

If you do not have an air fryer you could try baking them in the oven, however it will take much longer and I don’t know if they will crisp up the same. If you do try in the oven please comment below on what you did and how they came out.