Patacones

Patacones are a crispy snack made from green plantains that may be eaten on their own or with pico de gallo. Plantains are peeled and chopped into quarter-inch slices before being boiled, flattened, and fried.

The term patacon comes from the size and shape of silver coins from the Colonial Spanish period, which influenced the snack's size and shape. Snack on the best Patacones in the coastal province of Puntarenas

Ingredients:

green plantains (do not use yellow, or yellowish-green. It vastly changes the taste); vegetable oil; salt

Instructions:

• Peel Plantain and cut it width-wise into 3 or 4 pieces.

• Heat 1 minute of vegetable oil on medium heat until hot.

• Fry plantain pieces on both sides for about 3 minutes, or until the pieces are golden.

• When they are golden, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate covered with a paper towel.

• Flatten the fried plantain.

• Be careful not to put too much pressure, or the plantain will stick to the waxed paper. Just gently flatten them till they are about 1/4" thick.

• Place in the hot oil again and fry until both sides are golden brown.

• Drain on a paper towel-covered plate (be sure to change paper towels in between the 2 fryings) and sprinkle with salt.

• Serve immediately.