Hailing from India, plantain chips is not new to me, but I was unaware that we could make it fat free by baking plantain chips! Boy oh boy! Was I in for a huge surprise after trying the baked plantain chips recipe from my friend's blog a couple of years ago! Unfortunately she doesn't blog anymore and the blog is no longer online. I picked up quite a few healthy recipes and fitness tips from her blog.
Before I knew this recipe I used to wonder what to do with plantains when I saw it in the grocery stores. My husband being a healthy conscious person I knew he wouldn't eat plantain chips if I made it in the traditional way of deep frying it in oil. So I never bought it.
Fortunately one of those lousy afternoons when I was bored and didn't have nothing much to do landed upon the baked plantain chips recipe. Seeing the picture in that blog I couldn't believe my eyes! The chips looked thin, crispy and very delectable. I couldn't wait to try the plantain chips recipe.
I bought plantains in our next grocery trip and got straight into the baked plantain chips making process. Did a couple of batches to master the right size to be sliced for each chip. It should be neither thick nor too thin. If it's thick it will take lot more time and may not get crispy evenly either. On the other hand if the slice is too thin, you may end up burning it if you are not alert. Once you master that then there is no going back to deep fried plantain chips. You would prefer baking plantain chips over the former. Not only that you will also start experimenting the same procedure with other firm vegetables too. I know because I did!
I have tried it with raw banana, potato, bottle gourd. I have always wanted to try it with beets and carrots. Maybe one of these days I will.
If you are looking for a similar healthy snack recipe you should try the oven roasted chickpeas recipe. Easy to make, big on taste and healthy too.
Recipe
Baked Plantain Chips Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 medium size plantains or raw bananas, peeled/unpeeled
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- salt/red chili powder/black pepper as per taste
Instructions
- Pre heat the oven at 425F/220C for 15 minutes. Line a big cookie sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Meanwhile in a large bowl whisk together the oil, salt and seasonings. Stir in the sliced plantain and coat it well with the spice rub.
- Spread the sliced pieces onto the baking sheet and bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping it once in the middle.
My Notes
- The first time I made these, I cut the slices thicker, so it took around 30 minutes and it baked evenly. But this time I made it very thin, so it was getting burnt very soon. I think I should have reduced the oven temperature.
Taste & Texture
- The taste and texture of these baked plantain chips is exactly same as that of those fried in oil. Using coconut oil makes it even better.
Maggie says
I microwave my unpeeled plantain for three minutes (consider it the first fry). I unpeel it and cut on an angle into one inch pieces. I use a Mallet and make them thinner slices (1/4 inch). I place on parchment paper and drizzle light evoo on each one, flip and repeat. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 15 min on one side (at 425) flip and Go another 10. (Once they are squished the may fall apart so I use a spatula to move them around.)
Madhuram says
Oh! neat idea! Thanks for sharing.
Marco says
Looks very good. I'm making them right now.
Priya Mahadevan says
Hi, First time on your lovely blog - I made these this morning - they turned out well
and were quite crispy to start off with -Then got a little chewy...So I stuck them in the over
and baked them for a few minutes and they got crispy again -- I will try your method the next time and see if that works better ...
Madhuram says
Thanks Priya.
shirley says
425 degrees
burnt BLACK
GARBAGE
your temp?
thx
shirley
Hi Shirley, it depends on how thick or thin the plantain slices are. If its too thin and you bake it at 425F it will definitely burn if you don't keep an eye on it. For 425F it has to be slightly on the thicker side or at least you should keep shaking the pan/checking it quite often.
sonya says
I think I over cooked mine ...they were tooo hard and crunchy..will have to try again...:(
That should be it Sonya. The thickness of the slices has to be considered while setting the baking time.
tiff says
so were they yellow or green bananas? sooo excited!!!!!!!!!
The unripe green plantains you can find in Mexican/Indian grocery stores.
althea says
Please let me know what kind of Bananas were used- raw green or the yellow ones? If you can please reply 2 my email address. Desperately waiting! have got 2 raw bananas waiting along with myself! 😉
stephchows says
Hi there! These look super tasty, what temperature did you cook these at? Thanks!
It?s 425F. Please check the link in "J and B?s plantain chips" for further details. Since the recipe is from another blog I did not reproduce it.