Stuffed plantain cups are known all over Latin America and Central America. Typically filled with some sort of protein, this is one of my favorite appetizers. They're a spin on regular tostones that make them the perfect vehicle for a delicious snack or side dish.
These plantain cups appetizers are well known from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico all the way to Colombia and are great for parties. Each country and region typically fills them with their favorite meat, each country having a different filling.
Ingredients
- 2 or 3 large green plantains
- 3 cups of your choice of frying oil (vegetable oil, light olive oil, any oil with a high smoke point and minimal flavor)
- Salt
Instructions
- Heat the frying oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat; ensuring there is enough oil to cover plantains. Let the oil reach 350 degrees.
- Peel the green bananas using a pairing knife. Cut the peeled plantain into 2 inch thick pieces
- Fry the plantains in the hot oil until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Place a piece of parchment on the bottom of your lemon squeezer or tostonera, then place the plantain piece in the lemon squeezer and cover with another piece of parchment paper.
- Squeeze down on the lemon squeezer until you have a small cup shape. Remove the toston cup carefully and place on paper towel lined plate.
- Fry the cute little cups for a second time in the hot oil until golden brown then place them on a plate with napkins to drain the oil and sprinkle with a little salt.
- Fill the tostone cups with your favorite filling
- Serve immediately.
Equipment needed
All you need for this recipe is a lemon squeezer and parchment paper. I am not a fan of kitchen gadgets, so I don't own any type of tostonera.
What to fill these toston cups with
I love filling these fried plantain cups with
- Vaca Frita
- Ropa Vieja
- Camarones Enchilados
- Picadillo
- Mozzarella cheese
- Pico de gallo for a vegan option
How to pick the perfect green plantain for this recipe
For this recipe you want to make sure you get thick, large bright green plantains. Depending on the length of the plantain will depend how many cups you'll be able to get, opt for a plantain that's about 12 inches long if possible. If they're too skinny or small they will not fully form into a cup when you press them. Types of plantains to avoid are:
- Yellow Plantains
- Plantains with dark spots
- Small Plantains
Variations
Don't want to deep fry your tostones? You can air fry them instead. Spray the plantains with some cooking spray and cook in your air fryer for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees, Smash them using your regular tostonera or citrus squeezer then add them back to the air fryer for another 5 minutes.
Storage
Store your twice cooked plaintain cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for upto 3 days.
To reheat, I recommend placing them in the oven or toaster oven for 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees for best results.
Check out these other recipes
How to make toston cups
Ingredients
- 3 large green plantains
- 3 cups of your choice of frying oil vegetable oil, light olive oil, any oil with a high smoke point and minimal flavor
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat the frying oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat; ensuring there is enough oil to cover plantains. Let the oil reach 350 degrees.
- Peel the green bananas using a pairing knife. Cut the peeled plantain into 2 inch thick pieces. Ideally you have 3-4 pieces per plantain.
- Fry the plantains in the hot oil until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, remove them from the oil and place them on paper towel to drain excess oil.
- Place a piece of parchment on the bottom of your lemon squeezer or tostonera, then place the plantain piece in the lemon squeezer and cover with another piece of parchment paper.
- Squeeze down on the lemon squeezer until you have a small cup shape. Remove the toston cup carefully and place on paper towel lined plate.
- Fry the cute little cups for a second time in the hot oil until golden brown then place them on a plate with napkins to drain the oil and sprinkle with a little salt.
- Fill the tostone cups with your favorite filling
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Yellow Plantains
- Plantains with dark spots
- Small Plantains
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