These easy air fryer tostones also known as patacones or fried green plantains are made healthier in the air fryer. No greasy mess, these come out crispy and delicious!
Air Fryer Tostones (Twice Fried Plantains)
Tostones are a staple in Latin American countries and the Caribbean. With a Latin mom, I grew up eating tostones and always loved them. As a kid I would help her smash them before they went back in the oil for a second time. I still can’t resist them if we go out for Latin food, or if I find myself at my Moms house with a plate of them in front of me. I have been getting lots of people asking me, can you make tostones in the air fryer? The answer is yes! We do it all the time!
Tostones In The Air Fryer
Since buying my air fryer, making tostones in the air fryer has been on my top to-do list of recipes to try and turned out great! Tommy was a happy man as they are one of his favorites! I’ve made Baked Tostones in the oven many times but to be honest, they come out so much crispier in the air fryer.
How To Make Tostones in the Air Fryer
To make them in the air fryer I used the same technique my family uses to deep fry, only without all the oil using my air fryer.
- Start with green plantains which look like bananas, only larger.
- Trim the ends off, cut a slit along the length deep enough to penetrate the skin without cutting the plantain.
- Cut into 1-inch pieces, then peel each piece (putting a little oil on your fingers helps peel them easier).
- Spritz the plantain with a little oil then cook a few minutes. Remove from the air fryer and smash while still hot. Spritz both sides with the oil and place back in the air fryer until golden and crisp.
- Smash them – A tostonera (affil link) is typically used to smash them, if you don’t have one you can use the bottom of a cup or jar to smash them.
- Add them to a salt water brine for a second or 2 before adding them back to the air fryer.
- After they cook, I like to give them another spritz of olive oil so the salt sticks to them. Eat right away.
How To Serve Tostones
- Tostones are typically salted and served just like chips.
- Serve it with mayo-ketchup which is simply a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup.
- You can add a dipping sauce such as guacamole, ceviche, zesty avocado dressing
- We love it with Peruvian Green Sauce
- This also makes a delicious side dish for Picadillo, Pernil, or Rice and Beans.
What are Plantains
Plantains, like bananas are high in potassium, fiber, vitamins and minerals. They are a variety of banana that must be cooked because of the amount of starch they contain. Like a banana, they vary in ripeness from green to yellow. Yellow plantains are sweeter than green, and should not be used to make tostones, green plantains are used instead. Plantains are naturally gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, Whole30 and Paleo friendly.
More Plantain Recipes You Will Love
Air Fryer Tostones (Twice Air Fried Plantains)
Ingredients
- 1 large green plantain, ends trimmed and peeled (6 oz after)
- olive oil spray, I like Bertolli
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- With a sharp knife cut a slit along the length of the plantain skin, this will make it easier to peel. Cut the plantain into 1 inch pieces, 8 total.
- In a small bowl combine the water with salt and garlic powder.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F.
- When ready, spritz the plantain with olive oil and cook 6 minutes, you might have to do this in 2 batches.
- Remove from the air fryer and while they are hot mash them with a tostonera or the bottom of a jar or measuring cup to flatten.
- Dip them in the seasoned water and set aside.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400F once again and cook, in batches 5 minutes on each side, spraying both sides of the plantains with olive oil.
- When done, give them another spritz of oil and season with salt. Eat right away.
