Crisp Ripe Plantain Chips Recipes

Steps:

• For the dipping sauce: Add the sugar and 1/2 cup water to a medium pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, in a food processor combine the sambal, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, lime zest and juice, chile de arbol, garlic, Fresno chiles and ginger. Process until well chopped up. Once the sugar mixture has turned a caramel color, remove from the heat and carefully dump in the chopped aromatics; take care as the hot caramel will bubble up and steam. Stir the caramel well to mix in the aromatics, then return to the heat. Mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water to create a slurry; stir into the sauce. Simmer until thickened to the consistency of ketchup. Cool before serving. (Makes 2 cups.)
• For the plantain chips: Heat the oil to 350 degrees F in a large Dutch oven. While the oil is heating up, trim the ends of the plantains and then slice lengthwise into thin (about 1/16-inch thick) planks using a mandoline. In small batches to avoid overcrowding, fry the plantain planks until golden brown and crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently move the plantains around in the oil as they fry--this helps them crisp up. Drain on paper towels or a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Sprinkle the chips immediately with the salt and smoked paprika. Serve with the sweet chile dipping sauce.

Steps:

• Heat oil in deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Deep fry the plantain slices, about a dozen at a time, until golden brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain in a large bowl lined with paper towels, and salt to taste while still warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Divide plantains between two rimmed baking sheets. Toss with oil, then arrange in a single layer on sheets. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until golden and crisp, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating sheets and flipping plantains halfway through. Drain plantains on paper towels. Serve with Pico de Gallo, if desired.

Steps:

• Heat 1 inch oil to 375°F in a 4- to 5-quarts heavy pot over medium-high heat.
• Meanwhile, cut ends from (unpeeled) plantains, then halve plantains crosswise. Cut a lengthwise slit through peel and discard peel. Cut plantains lengthwise into very thin slices (less than 1/16 inch thick) with slicer.
• Fry plantains in batches of 10 to 12 slices, turning frequently, until golden, about 1 minute per batch. Drain on paper towels, immediately seasoning each batch with salt. Return oil to 375°F between batches.

Steps:

• Stir together zest, salt, and cayenne.
• Heat oil in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375°F. While oil is heating, cut ends from plantains and score skin of each plantain 5 times lengthwise, avoiding ridges. Soak in hot tap water 5 minutes and peel. Cut plantains lengthwise with a U-shaped peeler or manual slicer into very thin strips (about 116 inch thick). Fry strips, 6 at a time, turning frequently, until golden, 30 to 45 seconds. Transfer with tongs to paper towels and sprinkle crisps immediately with salt mixture.