These sweet plantains are the unexpected BBQ side you need this summer

Cooking should be fun, and there are plenty of opportunities to do so without breaking the bank or dirtying up too many dishes. This two ingredient recipe for fried sweet plantains is affordable, delicious, easy and the perfect way to bring food from all over the world right to your dinner table.

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Plantains are a starchy fruit, but much like tomatoes, they're treated and cooked as though they are a vegetable. Plantains look like large, spotted bananas and are a staple in Caribbean, Central and South American, West African and Southeast Asian cuisines

The key to letting plantains really shine is to make sure they're very ripe before cooking. The fruit has the most starch before it ripens, so you should look for plantains that have a mix of yellow and black coloring when buying them at the grocery store. The sweet Caribbean staple is perfect when paired with a spicy or charred entree, like jerk pork, grilled chicken or any number of the best-ever grilled dishes.

To make basic plantains, you'll need just two simple ingredients: plantains and butter. Start by peeling and cutting the plantains into small, diagonal pieces. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and then place the plantains into the skillet. Cook the plantains for a few minutes on each side, or until they turn golden brown. See the full technique below, via The Daily Meal's YouTube channel:

Once the plantains are done let them drain on a plate lined with a paper towel. Serve them over a bed of rice as an easy and affordable vegetarian dinner option.

Fried Sweet Plantains

Ingredients:

3 very ripe plantains
3 tablespoons butter

Directions:

Step 1: Peel and cut the plantains into diagonal 1-inch pieces.

Step 2: Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium heat.

Step 3: When the butter is almost melted, place plantains into the skillet. You may need to cook in batches as you don't want to overcrowd the skillet.

Step 4: About 2-3 minutes into cooking, add another tablespoon of butter.

Step 5: Cook another 2-3 minutes, until the bottoms of the plantains are very golden.

Step 6: Flip and add another tablsepoon of butter.

Step 7: Cook for 4-6 minutes on the second side.

Step 8: Remove the plantains when the second side is very golden. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel and serve hot.

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