Baked Plantains in their Skin

Have you ever made baked plantains???  It’s the easiest thing to do when you’re hungry and in a hurry…   My grandma used to tell me that a baked plantain and a glass of milk on the side were a full meal. 

You can make this one of two ways: 

1- On the microwave – I do not usually use the microwave for cooking because of all the radiation it emits onto the food, but I do use it on occasion when I am super duper hungry and there’s no time to wait…

2- On the toaster oven – because it’s sacrilegious, with our current electricity costs, to turn on a whole oven for one lonely plantain

This is not even a recipe… because the plantain is the ONLY ingredient… but this is important, the plantain NEEDS to be super ripe, almost black for this to work…

BAKED PLANTAIN in its SKIN

1 very ripe plantain

1. Cut both ends of the plantain and make a slit on the plantain skin from top to bottom.

If doing this in the microwave oven…

1. Place plantain on a paper towel and microwave on HIGH for 3-4 minutes, depending on how large is your oven. 
2. After time has elapsed, check the plantain for doneness.  If you want, you can turn the plantain on its other side and microwave again on HIGH for an extra 2-3 minutes. 
3. Wait a few minutes for the radiation and heat to dissipate.  Take out of the plantain, remove it from its skin and enjoy.

If doing this on a regular toaster oven…

1. Place the cut plantain on a oven proof dish at 350° F. 
2. Let the plantain bake in its skin for about 20-25 minutes.  The sweet smell of the sugars in the plantain will let you know when it’s done. 
3. Turn off the oven and let it finish cooking in the residual heat for about 10 minutes more.  Take the plantain out of its skin and enjoy.

This is a great side dish for… anything, in my opinion.  But if you dare try it with a glass of milk, let me know how it goes…  it’s awesome!!!

Tags: plantains