4 Easy plantain recipes

Many people are confused between plantains and bananas. Yes, plantains are a member of banana family. But there are few differences between them although they look alike. Plantains are more longer and much firmer than bananas. Both can be eaten raw, but plantains taste more delicious when cooked than eaten raw. Both are highly nutritious like rich in fiber, Vitamins and minerals. But plantains are more starchy than bananas.

Plantains

When babies start to eat solid foods, we usually offer them pureed vegetables and fruits. Like bananas, we can give plantains to babies. But it is better to give steamed plantain than raw, since steamed plantains are easy to digest. I introduced plantain to my son around 6 months of age. At first, I gave him steamed plantain puree. Honestly, he was not a big fan of pureed plantain, but later he started to like mashed steamed plantain. Now his favorite is fresh ripe plantains. So nowadays I offer him fresh ripe plantains. 

Ripe plantains are being used in various forms like fresh, boiled, steamed, fried or roasted. These are my easy plantain recipes. Hope this recipes will help you Moms to cheer your little-ones.

HAPPY JULY 4th

Recipe 1 (For age 15 months+)

How to serve fresh ripe plantain?

Step 1: Cut to remove bottom and top edges of plantain, then cut into 2-3 large cylindrical pieces.

Step 2: Peel off each pieces and cut them into half. Remove the seed from the middle of each half and cut them into little-ones bite size.

Sprinkle cinnamon/ sugar on top if you like.

Fresh ripe plantain pieces

Recipe 2 (For age 12 months+)

Steamed plantain

Step 1: Cut to remove bottom and top edges of plantain, then cut again into medium size cylindrical pieces.

Step 2: Keep the plantain pieces inside a steamer and steam it closed for about 15-20 minutes. Cook them until you get sweet aroma of plantains (if you touch the pieces with a spoon, it will become soft when it is cooked). Do not over cook plantains since you will loose all the sweet taste from the plantains.

Step 3: Take them out and remove the skin.

Step 4: Cut through middle of each pieces and remove the black seeds.

Step 5: Mash them with a fork until you get a desired consistency.

Serve them fresh.

Cut ripe plantain into medium size pieces and steam them

Steamed plantain

Cut steamed plantain pieces into two halves and remove the seeds

Mash them with a fork. Ready to serve!

Recipe 3 (For age 6 months+)

Pureed plantain

Step 1: Cut to remove bottom and top edges of plantain, then cut again into medium size cylindrical pieces.

Step 2: Keep the plantain pieces inside a steamer and steam it closed for about 15-20 minutes. Cook them until you get sweet aroma of plantains (if you touch the pieces with a spoon, it will become soft when it is cooked). Do not over cook plantains since you will loose all the sweet taste from the plantains.

Step 3: Take them out and remove the skin.

Step 4: Cut through middle of each pieces and remove the black seeds.

Step 5: Place them in a blender and blend with breast milk/ formula/ whole milk until you get a smooth consistency.

Pureed steamed plantain

Recipe 4 (For age 15 months+)

Roasted plantain

Step 1: Cut the two edges off plantain.

Step 2: Peel off the skin and cut them into ~1 cm slices.

Step 3: Heat a pan over medium heat and spread butter on top. Place the sliced plantain pieces on top and cook them until each side turn brown.

Serve fresh. Sprinkle powdered sugar if you like.

Cut ripe plantain into small slices

Butter the pan and roast the plantain pieces

Roasted plantain is ready to serve!

HAPPY COOKING!