How to make Tostones or Patacones

Tostones, also known as patacones, are twice fried plantains found in a lot of Latin American cuisine. Our tasty recipe for tostones uses the air fryer for a healthier version of this classic recipe. When you want a tasty, crispy snack, these air fried treats satisfy all your cravings!

What are Tostones or Patacones?

Tostones or Patacones are twice-fried plantains. The recipe originates in many Latin American countries and Caribbean cuisine. They have a slightly sweet, slightly salty flavor with a crispy outside. The result is a crunchy snack that is starchy on the inside. 

What are plantains?

Plantains are a starchy fruit that looks similar to bananas. Ripe plantains taste a bit like bananas without the banana flavor. Under ripe plantains, like the ones you need for patacones, are a bit less sweet. They are a bit tougher, which makes them great for cooking. In this air fryer tostones recipe, the plantains get a crispy exterior with a softer inside.

Difference between tostones and maduros

Maduros use a ripened plantain while tostones use green plantains. The result is that maduros are sweeter than tostones. They both have a similar flavor, but maduros are a bit more of a dessert-like snack. 

Baked versus Air Fried versus Fried Tostones

Baked tostones will have a slightly less crispy outside compared to fried tostones and air fried tostones. Air fried and baked tostones use a lot less oil, which makes them lighter in calories and bit healthier than deep fried tostones.

Fried tostones do have a slightly crispier texture, but the air fryer does a pretty good job of giving them a crispy exterior, just without the extra oil.

Why you will love this tostones recipe

This air fryer tostones recipe is a healthier version of the deep fried tostones native to Latin American and Caribbean countries. It is a great tasting, easy recipe to follow, which makes it the perfect snack for your kids after school.

Ingredients to make Tostones

When you want to make the best patacones, you will need:

• Green Plantains - You will want to look for green plantains that are a bit underripe.
• Water 
• Salt to taste
• Cooking oil spray

You’ll also want to have the following tools ready for this tostones recipe:

• Cutting board
• Knife
• Air Fryer or Oven
• Tongs
• Mixing Bowl

How to make Tostones in Air Fryer

When you want the best tasting patacones, follow this guide on how to make tostones:

• First, peel and cut the plantains. To do this, first remove the ends of the plantains and peel them with a knife. Finally, cut the plantains into 1 ½ inch thick slices.
• When ready, soak the plantains in water and salt for 20 minutes. This will prevent browning and drying them out.
• Next, preheat the air fryer at 350 F
• As it heats, remove the slices from the water and dry each one with a paper towel.
• Next, spray them with cooking oil and transfer them into the basket in a single layer, leaving ½ inch space between them. 
• When prepared, air fry them for 5 minutes.
• Next, smash each slice of the plantain with the bottom of a coffee mug or small pyrex bowl to flatten them into discs.
• Once flattened, spray oil on the smashed discs and air fry them again for 6 minutes or until crispy on the outside.
• Finally, remove the plantains and season them with salt and pepper. 
• Repeat the process for the remaining plantain pieces.

You can serve the patacones with a side of avocado salsa, avocado crema, or ketchup and mayo.

Baked Tostones 

First, follow the same steps as above to peel the plantains. Once they are peeled and soaked, preheat your oven to 425 degrees. 

When the oven is heated, bake the plantains for 15 minutes, then smash them, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

Pro Tips to make crispy tostones

When you want to make the best patacones recipe, follow these simple tips and tricks to make the tostones crispy:

• Make sure to spray them with a little oil before you air fry them to help crisp up the outside.
• Don’t skip preheating the air fryer. It should be hot when you put them in.
• Also, don’t skip soaking the plantains. This step helps prevent burning and gives the inside a softer texture.

FAQs

Other great recipes

If you are still hungry, then you can check out these other great recipes:

• Tea sandwiches
• Samosa
• Hakka noodles
• Nutella cookies
• Apple chips
• French fries 
• Mozzarella sticks
• Ciabatta rolls

Let us know what you think

If you make this delicious recipe, let us know how it went! When you make this, be sure to take a pic and tag us on Instagram @dbellyrulesdmind or Facebook @thebellyrulesthemind!