🇸🇹 Sao Tomean Cuisine

Banana Frita

Fried Plantain Rounds

Prep Time 5 min
Servings 4
Difficulty Easy
Calories 247 kcal

Thick rounds of semi-ripe plantain fried twice — first to cook through, then smashed and fried again until golden and crunchy outside with a soft center.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Peel plantains and cut into 3cm thick rounds.
  2. 2 Fry in oil at 170°C for 4-5 min until pale golden. Remove and drain.
  3. 3 Smash each piece flat to about 1cm using a plate or spatula.
  4. 4 Return to hot oil (180°C) and fry 2-3 min until deep golden and crispy.
  5. 5 Drain on paper towels. Season with salt immediately.

Did You Know?

The double-fry technique used in banana frita is shared across Caribbean and West African cultures, each claiming to have invented it first.