Baked Plantain

Try this deliciously sweet side dish that has all of the flavor and texture of fried plantain with a fraction of the oil.

To optimize this dish, be sure to select ripe plantains. It should have many black spots and be slightly soft to the touch.

I love plantain and it is often served as a fried side dish in many Nigerian dishes. However, I wanted to capture to texture of fried plantain without all of the oil. So, this recipe minimally coats the plantain slices in coconut oil and baked. I have found this approach to be ideal as it is a comparable mouth-feel to fried plantain. After baking, I like to take things up a notch by tossing the plantain in a bit of coconut nectar. This last step is optional but totally worth it.

Baked Plantain

Ingredients

• 2 ripe plantains, sliced on bias

• 2 Tbs coconut oil

• 1 tsp cinnamon, ground

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 Tbs coconut nectar, optional

Directions

Prep

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Make

1. In a bowl, add coconut oil, cinnamon and salt. Mix thoroughly.

2. Peel and slice the plantains into 1/2 inch slices, cut on a bias. Add to bowl and toss well.

3. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange the plantain in a single layer.

4. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway until plantains are golden brown