Traditional Panamanian Cuisine - Patacones - Step by Step Recipe

My friend recently showed me how to make patacones, a traditional food made here in Panama. It was a pretty easy process, so I tried it on my own recently and it turned out pretty well. Patacones are fried, squashed, and fried again plantains (platanos) that are commonly eaten for breakfast, or as a side at traditional restaurants.

We had patacones with rice, lentils, and chicken!

The first step in making patacones is to choose enough plantains that you will have enough patacones for everyone! I bought 2, and, for our family of 7, it was not enough! Next time we will have more plantains!! The plantains need to be very green. You will also need some salt and oil.

Then you need to peel the green plantain. It got some sticky goo all over my hands that was there for a day or so. I will need to find a better way next time. I think my friend used a knife. I just used my fingers and nails.

Slice up the green plantain that has been peeled into small coins about 1/2" thick. Get the oil heated up. I used olive oil to fry my plantains in because that's what I had at home. You could use any kind of oil really. My friend used vegetable oil. Get the oil hot enough that the plantains fry when you put them in.

When the oil is hot enough, put the coins into the oil and let them fry on one side for a few minutes.

Then flip them over so that the other side can fry for a bit. They will turn a nice golden color.

When both sides have been fried until they're a nice golden color, take them out and put them on the cutting board. Take a large flat river rock and pound them flat at this point. I did not have a rock handy, so I used the bottom of a glass. They should be soft enough that they will flatten out, but don't get them too thin or they will fall apart. Mine were probably 1/4" thick or so. Sprinkle some salt on them at this point.

The next step is...you guessed it...fry them again! You can fry them on one side and flip them over. Once they are golden brown again, take them out with a fork or spatula. They should be crispy.

Allow them to drain for a little bit on a paper towel. These are tasty if consumed warm, but they're also good cold. My kids like them dipped in ketchup, but they're great with just some salt as well.

These take a little time to make, especially your first time, so plan accordingly! Be sure to let me know if you end up making them!!

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