Air Fryer Plantain Chips: A Healthy, Easy Treat

Air fryer plantain chips are a tasty, healthier alternative to traditional chips. They are a great crispy snack and can be made sweet or savoury depending on your preference. The chips are made by thinly slicing plantains and cooking them in an air fryer for a few minutes. The recipe is simple and only requires a few ingredients, making it a quick and easy snack.

Choosing the right plantain

Ripeness

The ripeness of the plantain determines its sweetness and texture. For plantain chips, it is best to choose plantains that are mostly green with a few brown spots, but no yellow skin. Green plantains are high in starch and low in moisture and sugar, resulting in a firmer texture that is ideal for slicing and will yield a crispier chip. Yellow plantains are sweeter and softer, resembling bananas in flavour, and will not yield the desired crispy texture for chips.

Size and Colour

Select plantains that are light to medium green in colour. Avoid very dark green plantains, as they will be too unripe and difficult to peel. Similarly, avoid plantains that are starting to turn yellow, as they will be too soft and challenging to slice thinly and evenly. Choose plantains that are of medium size, as they will be easier to work with and yield more consistent slices.

Source

When purchasing plantains, look for them in the produce section of your local grocery store, usually near the bananas. Some common retailers that carry plantains include Winco and Walmart. If you cannot find them at your regular grocery store, try a Latin American specialty store, as plantains are a staple in Latin American cuisine.

Number of Plantains

Depending on the number of servings you wish to make, you will need one plantain for every two servings. Most recipes call for two large plantains to make a batch of chips.

Additional Tips

When choosing plantains, keep in mind that they continue to ripen after being purchased. If they are dark green, you likely have a couple of days before they start to turn yellow. If they are already light green, it is best to use them immediately to ensure they do not become too soft for slicing. Store plantains in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator to extend their shelf life.

Preparing the plantain

Choosing the Right Plantain

First, select the right plantain for the type of chip you want to make. If you are making salty, savoury, or crispy plantain chips, choose a green plantain. Green plantains are less sweet and maintain their texture better than ripe yellow or brown plantains. If you are making sweet plantain chips, choose a deep yellow plantain with black spots, as these will be ripe and sweet.

Peeling the Plantain

Cut off both ends of the plantain and then make a lengthwise incision down the peel. Be careful not to cut into the fruit's flesh. Then, use your fingers or a spoon to gently remove the peel. The peel of green plantains is firmly attached to the flesh, so it may be difficult to remove.

Slicing the Plantain

Use a mandolin slicer or a sharp knife to thinly slice the plantain. The slices should be as thin as possible, ideally about 1/16 inch or 1/8 inch in thickness. If you are using a mandolin, set it to the appropriate thickness. If you are slicing by hand, go slowly and carefully to achieve even slices.

Seasoning the Plantain (Optional)

At this stage, you can season your plantain slices with salt, pepper, or other spices. You can also add a drizzle of oil and toss the slices to coat them evenly. However, this step is optional, especially if you are watching your salt intake or prefer your chips without oil.

Arranging the Plantain in the Air Fryer

Place the plantain slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they do not overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the plantain slices in multiple batches.

Air fryer settings

Once preheated, you can then place your plantain slices in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the plantain chips in multiple batches.

Cooking time will vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of your plantain slices. Most recipes suggest cooking for around 6-12 minutes, flipping the slices halfway through, until golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on your plantain chips while cooking, and adjust the cooking time as needed.

Seasoning

The seasoning you use on your plantain chips will depend on whether you want to make a sweet or savoury version.

For a savoury flavour, you can use salt and pepper. You can also experiment with other spices such as Cajun seasoning, blackening spices, lemon pepper, or cayenne pepper. If you want to cut down on your salt intake, you can try adding sodium-free spices to your chips instead.

For a sweet flavour, you can use cinnamon and sugar. You can also add a dash of salt to bring out the sweetness.

Serving suggestions

Air-fried plantain chips can be served in a variety of ways, including as a snack, a side dish, or an appetizer. Here are some specific serving suggestions:

• On their own as a crispy snack, or with a dipping sauce such as creamy chipotle, salsa ranch, or avocado sauce.
• As a lunchbox addition or an afternoon snack.
• With dips such as veggie hummus, spicy cheese sauce, blender salsa, or spinach and artichoke dip, or cauliflower hummus.
• As an easy side dish for meals such as burgers, sandwiches, quinoa patties, wraps, vegetarian chili, or a bowl of beans.
• Crumbled on top of a salad or soup.
• Paired with a sweet tuna salad for a quick and easy lunch on the go.
• With a veggie queso dip.

Frequently asked questions