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15 Overripe Plantain Recipes

Plantains are a staple food for so many in the developing world. They’re cheap, easy to grow, and, of course, super healthy. But if you happen to have any that are past their prime, you don’t have to throw them out!

There are lots of ways to use plantain to make yummy, savory dishes. Use them to make plantain chips, or try this recipe for fried plantain with ground beef and onions.

So, what can you do with overripe plantain? There are many ways to use overripe plantains. You can make banana bread, plantain pudding, and much more. You can even make a healthy and kid-friendly dessert using overripe plantains.

Here are a few ways to turn overripe plantains into something delicious and nutritious.

15 Overripe Plantain Recipes

Plantains are often used as a starch in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. Using overripe plantains, you can make plantain chips, plantain fritters, plantain balls, plantain cake, plantain pudding, and more.

Tatale (African Plantain Pancakes)

These African-inspired plantain pancakes are the perfect dish to round off a savory meal. You can serve them as a main course or starter if you’d like.

You’ll need ripe plantains and a small saucepan for this recipe, and you can start the dish cooking after a long day at work.

Overripe plantains aren’t difficult to prepare – they have a lot of sweetness that makes them very easy to peel, even when they’re still quite firm.

Peel the plantain using a paring knife. Then cut the flesh into pieces that fit into your saucepan, trying to keep some of the peel on.

Cook the plantain until it softens slightly and has some texture, adding a little water if necessary.

Then mash the cooked plantain with a fork. You can add spices like ginger, nutmeg, cumin, coriander, and salt to taste, or serve plain if you prefer.

Fried plantain

These fried plantains are an alternative to french fries! They’re super easy to make and make for a quick snack or side dish.

Get your frying oil hot in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add your overripe plantains and fry until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle a little salt on top, and they’re ready!

Fried Sweet Plantains

If you prefer a sweeter, fried plantain, just sprinkle sugar on top of your fried plantains. Then dip the plantain in melted chocolate or drizzle some warm caramel on top!

Ocean Plantain a la Mexicana | Vegan Plantain Recipe

If you’ve ever been to Mexico, you’ve probably tasted plantain fritters with fried egg, chorizo, or cheese. These are one of our favorite Mexican-inspired dishes and we want to share the recipe with you.

You can use any combination of veggies for these plantain fritters but we love the flavors of the ocean!

Plantain Fudge

We love this fudge because it doesn’t have any refined sugar, so it’s naturally sweetened by the bananas and maple syrup in the recipe. This vegan overripe plantain recipe is perfect for dessert, breakfast, or even a healthy snack.

Puerto Rican Fried Plantains

These fried plantains are so good that we now just eat them for breakfast.

Overripe plantains are the perfect substitute for bananas in many recipes.

They’re also great used to create sweet dishes like fritters and fudge. You can fry them in coconut oil or vegetable oil for this recipe.

Fry in batches and keep warm in a low oven while cooking the rest of the batch.

Original Flava plantain and chickpea curry

This is one of my favorite overripe plantain recipes. It’s really easy to make and tastes delicious with the natural flavors of the spices.

If you like curry, you’re sure to enjoy this recipe! You can use any spices you prefer, but I’ve found that some of the more pungent ones work better in this recipe.

plantain fries

Sometimes it’s fun to try a new way to eat your old overripe plantains. You could try making fries out of these, or you could mash them up into a flour-like consistency.

Either way, they are delicious!

Flourless Plantain Waffles

I made these waffles for my husband the other day and they were the perfect breakfast treat. They didn’t require any flour, so they are perfect if you have a gluten allergy or don’t like the flavor of regular flour.

The batter for these is thick and sticky, so the waffles come out very fluffy. They can be enjoyed straight from the waffle iron, but I like them even better when topped with a little syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Baked Plantain Chips

If you love plantains but are too afraid to eat them because they are such a strange looking fruit, this simple recipe will convince you that plantains are just like other types of banana.

While they are a little bit more time consuming to bake than some of the other recipes in this guide, they’re well worth the effort. You can eat them as is, or you can serve them as chips alongside your favorite dishes like breakfast or dinner.

Sticky Sweet Fried Plantains

A classic Southern recipe that will make you wonder why you haven’t tried fried plantains before.

In the South we have fried everything from catfish to corn. Fried plantains are no exception to this rule.

Once cooked, you can then serve them as is, but for a more decadent experience you can top them with a sugar coating.

You could also dip the plantains into a bowl of warm chocolate sauce for a sweet dessert treat!

Magic Plantain Tortillas

Plantains also make awesome tortillas. Simply mash the plantain flesh, roll into small balls, and bake or fry until crispy. These would be fantastic served alongside some guacamole!

Simple Ripe Plantain and Coconut Mini Cakes

Sometimes you’re looking for something sweet, but you’re still in the mood for something savory. If that’s the case, try these plantain mini cakes!

If you’ve never cooked with plantains before, don’t worry – they aren’t actually bananas at all. Instead, plantains are a starchy tuberous root, and similar to yams or potatoes.

If you can’t find plantains, you could also use squash or sweet potato instead. They’ll have similar cooking times and a slightly different texture.

This recipe will give you something sweet and savory for breakfast or even as a dessert. Just make sure that you cook your plantains until tender enough for a fork to pierce them easily.

Puerto Rican Tostones (Fried Plantains)

These tostones, fried plantain recipes, come from Puerto Rico. The original recipe was made by Puerto Rican women who would deep fry plantains and serve them as appetizers or snacks with guacamole and other Puerto Rican dishes.

You can make this recipe with any kind of plantain, but we like the flavor and texture of these ripe plantains best.

They’re so versatile – you can use them as a snack or a side dish for an entrée. You could also slice the tostones in half lengthwise, then cut out a hole in each half, stuff them with meat, cheese, or anything else that sounds good to you, and then bake them in the oven.

Ecuadorian Plantains Stuffed with Cheese

Ecuadorian plantains are delicious and have a similar texture to tostones. They’re perfect stuffed with cheese and served as finger food, or eaten straight out of the frying pan.

Stuff them with cheese like we did here, or try them stuffed with refried beans and fried with a bit of cilantro.

CEO at Happy Muncher | benjamin@happymuncher.com | Website | + posts

Hi, I'm Benjamin. I love cooking, long walks, and my girlfriend! Here you’ll find simple and delicious recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less.