Tyler Florence's Sweet Plantains

Nope, they are not burnt. Just covered with brown sugar and cinnamon.

I bought plantains cause I wanted to make the "side dish" that they used to serve at a local Cuban Cafe (which is now closed, much to our anguish!). But for some strange reasons, I ended up making a version of Tyler Florence's Sweet Plantains. So the side I was meaning to make turned into a fabulous dessert.


What you need:

• 2 ripe plantains
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar

What to do:

Peel the plantains and cut it in half crosswise. Then, cut both ends in half lengthwise.

Heat 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat in a non-stick pan. Fry the plantains in a single layer until golden on the bottom, then turn over with a spatula (I used a fish spatula for more surface). Sprinkle the cinnamon, vanilla and brown sugar on the top, and let cook for another minute just so the sugar will caramelize.

Cut the remaining butter in small pieces and place on top of the plantains just before you take it off the heat. Serve immediately.


Tips, Tricks and Tweaks:

1. The riper (blacker) the plantain is, the better!
2. Skip the vanilla if you don't like its flavor.
3. Plantains have high sugar content so keep your eye on the pan or they will burn!
4. Eat immediately as the sugar (and sauce) will harden.