Roasted Green Plantains are a simple meal or snack often served in the Manabí province of Ecuador. Air-fried or baked until golden, they’re finished with shredded queso fresco and nutty salprieta on the side!
What are roasted green plantains?
Green plantains also known as unripe plantains or plátanos verdes, are a staple in Ecuadorian cuisine and many places in Latin America! It is quite rare to go a whole day without some sort of plantain in your diet here. This simple roasted green plantain recipe is one I learned from my host family while I was in the Peace Corps. My host mom was from Manabí, a coastal province known for its delicious food. And this recipe is a classic from Manabí!
The green plantains here are cooked until golden, either in the oven or the air fryer, then served with shredded queso fresco and a generous sprinkle of salprieta on the side. When serving them, they must be hot! Then, you break off pieces and dip them into the cheese and then the salprieta. The mixture of cheese and salprieta sticks the the warm inside!
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Ingredients
You just need a handful of ingredients to make this roasted green plantains recipe. Here's what you'll need:
- Green Plantains: These unripe plantains are firm and starchy, perfect for roasting. Look for plantains that are fully green with no yellowing.
- Cooking Spray or Neutral Oil (optional): A light coating helps the plantains crisp up more in the air fryer if you'd like.
- Queso Fresco: A mild, crumbly white cheese that melts slightly over the warm plantains. Mozzarella cheese can be used as a substitute if needed.
- Salprieta: An Ecuadorian peanut-based seasoning that adds texture and bold flavor. You buy it online or make it at home with my salprieta recipe!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Roasted Green Plantains in the Air Fryer
Step 1 - Prep the Plantain
Peel the green plantains and keep them whole. If you aren't sure how to peel a plantain, check out my post on peeling plantains.
Step 2 - Air Fry
Place the plantains in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray with oil if desired. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until slightly golden brown. They will be hard on the outside and softer on the inside with a bright yellow color.
Step 3 - Serve & Enjoy
Transfer the roasted plantains to a plate. Serve with shredded queso fresco and a generous sprinkle of salprieta. Serve warm and break apart the plantain as you dip it into the cheese and salprieta and enjoy!
How to Make Roasted Green Plantains in the Oven
- Prep the Plantains: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel the green plantains by cutting off the ends and scoring the peel lengthwise with a sharp knife. Use your thumbs to remove the peel. Keep the plantains whole.
- Roast: Place the plantain pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Lightly brush or spray with neutral oil for better browning and crispness. Roast for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the plantains are golden. They will be hard on the outside but should be bright yellow on the inside.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving plate. While still warm, top with shredded queso fresco and a generous sprinkle of salprieta. Serve immediately.
Tips for Success
- Use fully green plantains. This recipe is traditionally made with green, unripe plantains! However, ripe sweet plantains (yellow plantains) would also work well but you won't be able to eat them with your hands.
- Add oil for extra crispness. While you can roast these dry, a light spray of oil will help enhance their texture and color.
- Serve them warm. These are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer while the queso fresco starts to melt and the salprieta clings to the plantains. If they start to get cold, warm them up in the air fryer again!
How to Serve Ecuadorian Roasted Green Plantains
Serve roasted plantain with a side of shredded cheese and salprieta. If you don't have the salprieta and don't want to make it at home, then just serve with cheese! I prefer queso fresco, but you can also use a shredded mozzarella cheese. You will also want to serve them with a cup of tea or coffee on the side to wash them down. Roasted green plantains are usually served for breakfast or dinner in Ecuador!
Storage
These are best eaten fresh! If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the air fryer or oven until heated through!
Frequently Asked Questions
A green plantain is not actually a banana, but it is a relative of the banana! Both bananas and plantains belong to the Musa genus, but plantains are starchier, less sweet, and typically used in savory dishes. A green plantain is simply an unripe plantain, and at this stage, it’s firm, starchy, and ideal for frying, roasting, or boiling, similar to how you might use a potato. Unlike sweet bananas, plantains must be cooked before eating, especially when green.
More Plantain Recipes to Try
- Fried Sweet Plantains
- Sweet Plantain Chips
- Patacones or Tostones
- Baked Sweet Plantains with Cheese
- Green Plantain Chips
Roasted Green Plantain Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains
- 1 cup queso fresco shredded, for serving
- Salprieta for serving, if desired
Instructions
- Prep the Plantains: Peel the green plantains by slicing off the ends, then using a sharp knife to create a long cut down the edge of the plantain. Use your fingers or the knife to lift the peel and take it off carefully.
- Air Fry: Place the whole plantains in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until slightly golden and tender in the middle.
- Serve: Transfer the roasted plantains to a plate. Serve hot with a side of shredded queso fresco and a generous sprinkle of salprieta. Dip pieces of the plantain into the cheese and salprieta and enjoy!
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