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Tortilla de plátano
Ripe plantain omelette
Tortilla de plátano maduro: Cuba's sweet-and-savoury ripe plantain omelette
In Havana and across the Cuban countryside, tortilla de plátano is a home supper made from what is in the kitchen: slices of very ripe plantain fried until caramelised, then set in a thick, golden omelette. The sweet fruit against salty egg is the whole point, and it is served with white rice and black beans or a simple tomato salad. The mistake people make is using a plantain that is still yellow and firm; it stays starchy and dry, so wait until the skin is mostly black and the fruit gives when pressed. Chef's tip: flip the tortilla by sliding it onto a plate, covering with the pan and turning both over together, which keeps it whole.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 2
Ingredients
- 1 ripe plantainlarge, skin mostly black, about 250 g
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 eggslarge
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ onion (optional)finely chopped
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Peel 1 ripe plantain by cutting off the ends and slitting the skin lengthwise, then cut it on a slant into 1 cm slices.
Step 2: Heat 1 ⅜ tbsp vegetable oil in a 22 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and fry the slices for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden brown and soft right through. Add ¼ onion for the last 2 minutes if using.
6 minStep 4: Spread the plantain evenly in the pan, add the rest of ⅝ tbsp vegetable oil around the edge and pour in the egg. Cook over a medium-low heat, lifting the edge now and then so raw egg runs underneath, until the base is golden and the top is nearly set.
5 minStep 5: Slide the tortilla onto a plate, cover with the upturned pan and flip both over together. Cook the second side until golden and the middle is fully set with no wet egg when you press it.
3 minStep 6: Cut into wedges and serve warm with rice and black beans.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 15 g
- Carbs
- 35 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tortilla de plátano take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 2 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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