Potato Tostones Recipes

TOSTONES (POTATOES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Bake the potatoes for at least 45 minutes. Allow them to cool so you can easily peel and cut them into 1/4 inch slices. Heat the oil in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Brown the slices of potatoes, turning frequently. Meanwhile, prepare the gravy.
• Chile Gravy: Heat the additional 2 tablespoons oil in another skillet and blend in the flour. Cook until the flour is golden to make a roux, then stir in the garlic. Cook for just 1 minute. Add the cumin and oregano. Remove skillet from the heat.
• Combine the chile powder and water in a medium bowl, whisking until well blended. Add the chicken broth. Whisk this chile mixture into the flour roux. Place the skillet back over medium heat, and whisk the sauce to keep it smooth. Add the vinegar and salt and simmer for at least 15 minutes until the gravy thickens.
• To Serve the Tostones: arrange the potatoes in a shallow casserole or in 6 individual bowls and drizzle the gravy over the top. Garnish with the cheese and minced green onions, if desired.

TOTALLY TOSTONES

Steps:

• Put 3 cloves garlic into a mortar and add 1 teaspoon salt. Mash with the pestle until it forms a smooth paste; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut both ends off the plantains and run a knife just through the skin down the sides. Drop them into the boiling water for 10 to 15 seconds. Take them out and plunge them into ice water. Peel the plantains and cut them into 1/2-inch thick slices.
• Heat about 1/4-inch vegetable oil in a large skillet and fry the plantains, in batches, on both flat sides until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Press the tostones in a tostones press or on a cutting board with the bottom of a small heavy pot until they are about 1/4-inch thick. Toss them in a bowl with the garlic paste. Re-fry the tostones in the hot oil until golden brown.
• Serve as is with a sprinkling of salt or with a dab of one of the suggested toppings.

PUERTO RICAN TOSTONES (FRIED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Peel the plantain and cut it into 1-inch chunks.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet. Place the plantains in the oil and fry on both sides,; approximately 3 1/2 minutes per side.
• Remove the plantains from the pan and flatten the plantains by placing a plate over the fried plantains and pressing down.
• Dip the plantains in water, then return them to the hot oil and fry 1 minute on each side. Salt to taste and serve immediately.

TOSTONES (FRIED PLANTAINS)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Place a few plantain slices in the oil, and cook until lightly golden in color, about three minutes. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining slices.
• While the plantain slices are still warm, place them one at a time between two sheets of wax paper, and flatten by hand to 1/4 inch thick. Return flattened slices to the skillet, and continue frying until golden brown. Drain on paper towels, and season with salt and garlic powder.

TOSTONES

Steps:

• In deep 12-inch skillet or deep fryer, heat oil to 375°F over medium-high heat. Slice plantain into 1/2-inch pieces. With tongs, carefully place sliced plantains in hot oil. Cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, turning frequently. (Cook ripe plantains 45 seconds to 1 minute.)
• Remove from hot oil, and place on paper towels. Using tostonera or the bottom of glass, press each plantain slice to about 1/8-inch thickness. (Press ripe plantains to 1/4-inch thickness.)
• Return pressed plantains to hot oil. Cook a few at a time, turning frequently, until golden yellow and crispy. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle evenly with salt.

POTATO "TOSTONES" RECIPE

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan or stockpot with 1-2 inches of water. Place a collapsible vegetable steamer basket in the pan and place the potatoes in the basket. Add the kosher salt, cover, and bring to a boil. Steam over medium heat until the potatoes are just tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, about 25 minutes. Be careful not to overcook or they won't hold together when smashed. Drain and set aside until cool enough to handle. Carefully flatten the potatoes by gently squeezing them, one at a time, between the palms of your hands so that they flatten slightly but remain in one piece; some potatoes will inevitably break but they can still be used. Pour about 1/4 inch of the oil in a medium frying pan and heat over medium-high heat until hot. You can test to see if the oil is ready by placing a piece of potato in to see if it sizzles, or by dipping the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. When the oil is hot, bubbles will quickly form and rise around the spoon Fry the potatoes until they are crisp and brown on the first side, 4-6 minutes. Turn the potatoes with tongs and brown the other side, 4-6 minutes. Depending on the size of the potatoes and the pan, this may need to be done in 2-3 batches. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Keep warm in the oven while frying the rest. *To flatten the potatoes, place one in your palm, cover with your other palm as if you were going to clap your hands or make a snowball. Use firm pressure to flatten the potato until the edges crack and it is about half its former thickness. Don't try to flatten the potato completely.

SMASHED AND FRIED POTATOES

Steps:

• Place a steamer basket in a large pot filled with an inch of water and add the potatoes and salt. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Steam until the potatoes are just tender when pierced with a paring knife, about 25 minutes. (Don't overcook: they won't hold together when flattened.) Remove the basket and let the potatoes cool enough to be handled.
• Gently squeeze the potatoes, one at a time, between your palms so that they flatten slightly but remain in one piece (some will break, but they can still be used). Pour 1/4 inch of oil into a medium frying pan set over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes in batches to avoid crowding, and fry on both sides until crisp and browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with sea salt.