Air-Fryer Plantains are healthy, vegan, and vegetarian dishes you can make as side dishes or snacks. It’s a popular African recipe because of how delicious and nutritious plantains are. This will certainly be an air fryer dish you love!
Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save for later
You just need a few minutes and a little effort to make these air fryer plantains. Get tender and sweet ripe plantains with this recipe!
How to Make Air Fryer Plantains
If you love plantains, then you will appreciate this air fryer plantains recipe. It’s a one-ingredient dish fried to perfection until soft and delicious!
Ingredients
Plantains
Plantains may look like bananas, but they are prepared and enjoyed differently. These plantains are best eaten when cooked in various ways. This recipe uses ripe ones for the sweetness and tender texture.
In fact, plantains are so tasty that you can turn them into bread, porridge, fufu, baby puree, and chips! Did you know that they are actually vegetables and not fruits? They are so versatile that you can bake, deep fry, grill, roast, or steam them!
Aside from the delicious flavor of plantains, they also offer many health benefits:
- Plantains are starchy and fibrous fruits that are good for digestion and metabolism.
- They are rich in vitamins to boost your immunity and help your body fight diseases.
- These fruits support brain function to keep you focused and sharp, whether at work or school.
- Regularly eating plantains lowers the risk of heart problems and improves blood pressure.
- Moreover, add these fruits to your diet to strengthen bones to become more active and energized.
Oil
Whenever I air-fry, I make sure to use oil with a high smoke point, like sunflower oil. This oil helps me get the right texture for the plantain.
With these simple ingredients, you can easily make incredibly delicious fried plantain. Once you make it, you will realize why it’s my go-to ingredient.
Regardless of how you prepare your plantains, you can ensure they will be good for your body and mind!
Directions
- Cut off the ends of the plantain with a knife.
- Slice along the ridges to peel the plantain.
- Then, chop it to your preferred size.
- Pray on both sides with oil.
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cook them on the other side with a turner.
- Fry for 3 to 5 minutes more.
- Once content with the doneness, remove them from heat and serve!
Trust me; it does not get easier than this. You can cook this even on a busy day. Let the air fryer do the work, and you will have healthy and delicious Air Fryer Plantains!
Tips
Buying plantains
- Choose ripe plantains with yellow and brown or black colors.
- They should be firm to the touch and not too soft.
- You can also buy unripe plantains to ripen over a few days.
Storing plantains
- Unripe plantains can be kept at room temperature to ripen.
- Once ripe, put the plantains in the fridge.
- Freeze peeled and sliced plantains in freezer bags to use whenever you want!
Air Fryer Plantain Variations
Make Air Fryer Plantains more exciting by adding your favorite spices. You can use sugar, chili powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and other seasonings.
I also suggest making this dish in different shapes and sizes to make it more fun and creative! You may do diagonal, round, or long strips, depending on how you enjoy them.
If you don’t have an air fryer, then try the following recipes as alternatives:
Moreover, plantains can be oven-baked.
- Peel and slice the plantains.
- Arrange them on a greased baking tray.
- Drizzle with a bit of oil and season with spices.
- Bake them in a preheated oven at 200°C for 10 minutes on each side.
There are lots of ways to cook plantains. I can assure you that every recipe is delicious, healthy, and satisfying!
Recommended Tools
- Air fryer: Cook the plantains in an air fryer.
- Knife: Peel and slice the fruits with a knife.
- Turner: Flip to the other side of the plantains using a turner.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn commission income from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
Visit my shop for more products.
How to Serve Air Fryer Plantains
Air Fryer Plantains can be served for appetizers, breakfast, snacks, or desserts. They are also served as side dishes for soups and stews for extra flavor and texture.
Here are some of the best dishes to serve with these plantains:
Prepare the complete dining experience by making the following drinks to go with the Air Fryer Plantains:
Storage Tips
At room temperature: Eat room temperature air fryer plantains within several hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you use an air fryer for plantains?
Air fry the plantains to fry them without using much oil. Preheat the air fryer and cook the slices for up to 15 minutes. Wait until they are golden brown, and remove them from heat.
Should you soak plantains before frying?
Soaking the plantains is not necessary before air frying. However, you can soak them in seasoned water to infuse them with more flavors.
Are roasted plantains healthy?
Yes, roasted plantains are healthy. They are loaded with vitamins and minerals for your heart, brain, digestion, energy, and immunity. Moreover, these make great weight loss food because of their fiber content!
What is the best way to cook plantains?
The best way to cook plantains depends on your diet. If you don’t want to fry them, steam them instead. Alternatively, you can turn them into bread, porridge, fufu, baby puree, and chips!
Air Fryer Plantains
Ingredients
- 1 plantain (ripe)
- 1 tsp oil (any oil of your choice)
Instructions
- Cut off the ends of the plantain with a knife.
- Slice along the ridges to peel the plantain.
- Chop it to your preferred size.
- Pray both sides with oil
- Place them in a single layer in the air fryer.
- Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Cook them on the other side with a turner.
- Air-fry for 3 to 5 minutes more.
- Once content with the doneness, remove them from heat and serve!
Video
Notes
- Buy yellow and black ripe plantains for sweetness.
- Let them cool at room temperature to improve texture further.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, then deep fry or bake the plantains instead.
Nutrition
