Plantain Tart

Name: Plantain Tart
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 3 very ripe plantains, peeled and sliced; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tbsp butter; Pinch of salt; For pastry: 2 cups flour, 100g cold butter, 1 tsp salt, cold water; 1 egg for egg wash; Red food coloring optional

Plantain Tart (PLAN-tin tart)

Spiced Ripe Plantain Turnover

⏱ Prep Time 1 hour

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 285 kcal

Sweet ripe plantain mashed with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, enclosed in a flaky pastry shell and baked until golden, a classic Jamaican treat.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 4.0g

Carbs 38.0g

Fat 13.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

saucepan rolling pin baking sheet fork

Presentation Guide

Vessel: bakery tray or plate

Garnishes: powdered sugar dusting

Accompaniments: Jamaican blue mountain coffee, milk

Ingredients

3 very ripe plantains, peeled and sliced
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp butter
Pinch of salt
For pastry: 2 cups flour, 100g cold butter, 1 tsp salt, cold water
1 egg for egg wash
Red food coloring optional

Instructions

1
Boil plantain slices in water until very soft, about fifteen minutes. Drain well and mash until smooth with no lumps remaining.
2
Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, butter, and salt to mashed plantain. Cook over low heat five minutes until thick.
3
A drop of red food coloring is traditional and gives the filling its characteristic pink tint. Let the filling cool completely.
4
Make pastry by rubbing cold butter into flour and salt. Add cold water until dough forms. Roll thin and cut circles.
5
Place a spoonful of cooled plantain filling on each pastry circle. Fold over and crimp edges firmly with a fork to seal.
6
Brush with beaten egg and bake at 180C for twenty-five minutes until pastry is golden brown and flaky. Cool slightly before eating.

💡

Did You Know?

The traditional red food coloring in plantain tart filling is so iconic that a tart without the pink hue is considered incomplete by Jamaican bakers.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

saucepan
rolling pin
baking sheet
fork

Garnishing

powdered sugar dusting

Accompaniments

Jamaican blue mountain coffee, milk

The Story Behind Plantain Tart

Plantain tart is one of Jamaica's most beloved bakery items, found in every shop and school canteen across the island. The combination of sweet ripe plantain with warm spices in a flaky pastry represents the best of Jamaican baking tradition. Unlike many Caribbean desserts that rely on imported ingredients, plantain tart celebrates a fruit that grows abundantly on the island. The distinctive pink-tinged filling from red food coloring has become an unmistakable signature of this treat.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed snack, dessert, bakery treat 📜 Origins: Traditional Jamaican bakery

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