Fried Sweet Plantains (Maduros) – A Simple Cuban Side Dish

One of my favorite things about campground life in Florida is the unexpected generosity of people you meet along the way. I recently met a couple of hunters at a campground who gifted me some fresh cooking bananas from their farm. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and it inspired an entire Cuban-inspired meal.

From that gift, I created a delicious spread of Mojo Chicken, Congri (Cuban Black Beans and Rice), and fried sweet plantains. The caramelized sweetness of the plantains paired perfectly with the citrusy garlic flavors of the mojo chicken and the savory beans and rice.

If you’ve never cooked with plantains before, maduros are one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to prepare them. As plantains ripen and turn darker, their natural sugars develop, making them perfect for frying into golden, caramelized slices that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

This easy fried plantains recipe is perfect as a side dish for Cuban or Caribbean meals, and it’s simple enough to make whether you’re cooking in a full kitchen or a small camper van setup like mine.

You want your bananas to be nice and ripe for this. I used four and about 1/3 cup of grape seed oil. Any neutral oil will work.

Slice them on a bias as shown in the photo below. Heat your oil over medium heat and fry them until they are golden brown on both sides, about 3-5 minutes a side.

Remove them careful and add just a hint of sea salt.