Grilled Plantains

 

This night we served the grilled plantains with curry chicken and grilled cabbage with smoky/spicy yogurt

It is patio season. The season where our family's living space doubles because we can go outside. Patio season also means it is grilling season. Thus far, Riddles have grilled and smoked a lot of interesting things, but shokingly enough, it was not until a few weeks ago that we tried to grill plantains. We have fried them and made pastelon, but it had never occurred to me to try grilling them. They are amazing grilled! Now we snatch them up any time we get to the store. Grilled plantains pairs well with pretty much anything else you are throwing on the grill. We have had them with bratwurst, jerk pork loin and curry chicken. They are savory, spicy and sweet and pair excellently with a side of guacamole. Both the prep and cook time are short. Grilled plantains are a huge winner.

Picking your plantains: If you are unfamiliar with plantains, learning how to select them when purchasing is important. Plantains are sweeter the darker their skin gets, but you don't want them to be moldy. It is pretty rare that I find plantains ready to eat at the store. Usually, we have to buy them green or yellow and wait patiently while they ripen up on the kitchen veggie cart. For this kind of grilling, you want them ripe and the skins to have dark streaks and spots.

Grilled Plantains

Ingredients:

Ripe Plantains (see note above)

Olive Oil

1 Packet Saizon con azafran

Chili Powder

Smoked Paprika

Cumin

Oregono

Salt & Pepper

Instructions:

1. Cut the ends off all your plantains, then slice your plantains in half lengthwise .

2. Brush all the flat, flesh sides of the plantains with olive oil, then sprinkle with all the seasonings.

3. Grill the plantains over a hot grill. Start the plantains flat, seasoned side down first for 4-6 minutes. Then turn the plantains over to the skin side and let them continue to cook until the flesh begins to come away from the peel.

4. Remove from the heat and eat with a side of guacamole or cucumber salsa. 

Grilled Plantain served with jerk pork, grilled zucchini and jerk pineapple.