• Blog, Cuban Dishes, Cuban Food, Cuban Meals, Cuban Sandwiches
• Posted by: Arelys Alexander
• 18

Step inside La Sorpresa Cuban Cafe in Naples FL and you’ll find plates full of delicious Cuban dishes, ranging from traditional Cuban sandwiches and steak sandwiches to moro and slow-roasted lechon asado and bistec de res empanizado with arroz and frijoles.  What you’ll also most likely find is platanos maduros as a side dish on those plates.

Platanos maduros is a classic side dish prepared from sweet plantains.  This scrumptious side dish is a staple in Cuban food, but its origins are in India and they didn’t arrive in the Caribbean until they were brought over by Spanish settlers.  This fruit is a good source of potassium, fiber, and vitamin C, and then we go and drop them in hot oil to make them even better.  Once you taste these deliciously fried cooking bananas, you’ll fall in love with their starchy, sweet goodness.  

It all starts with a ripe plantain – the riper the better as the ripeness caramelizes the plantain when it’s fried and adds sweetness.  You’ll know the plantains are ripe when the skin is dark.

Once you have chosen the perfect plantains, put oil in a pan to begin heating and cut off the ends and remove the peel.  Grab a knife and slice the plaintain at a downward angle.  

When the oil is hot, drop the slices into the oil and fry each piece on both sides until they are a golden color.  You can fry them until they are a bit darker for a sweeter taste.  

Once they are the color that you prefer, take them out of the hot oil and place them on a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.  Sprinkle with a bit of salt and enjoy!

The best part of this side dish is that it is easy to make and absolutely delicious.  Many Cubans tend to have a banana with every meal, especially arroz con picadillo (yummy!), so these fried sweet plantains are a great addition.  If you don’t want to tackle the frying task, or just want some delicious maduros without having to go to the store, stop by La Sorpresa Latina Cuban Cafe and order up these sweet plantains with your choice of sandwich or main dish.

Stop by 8793 Tamiami Trail E, Naples, FL 34113 Monday through Saturday from 7:00am to 6:30pm and Sundays from 7:00am to 3:00pm.