Sweet Fried Plantain
This is a traditional Jamaican side dish, that's one of my favorites. There's really not much of a recipe- it's really about knowing how to pick the right plantain to get that sweet, soft taste and texture that makes this dish so bomb. The rule of thumb is the more beat up looking the plantain, the sweeter it will be. Think of when a banana gets all black and bruised-looking, you know the ones that aren't good for anything but a batch of banana bread?! Well, in "plantain-world" that bruised look is when they're just perfect! Try to buy them already pretty ripened, and black-looking if possible, otherwise you'll be in for a pretty long wait for them to ripen. You can find plantain at most international markets or west-indian stores. I have also recently been able to find them at most any grocery store in the frozen food aisle. Dole brand are the ones I go for. They come already ripened, peeled, and sliced. Just let them thaw first before frying.