How are green and ripe plantains used differently?

Question

I see both green and black (ripe) plantains for sale. I'm assuming they aren't used interchangeably. What kinds of dishes or techniques are appropriate for each type? Are the different types favored in different cultures, or do some cultures appreciate both?

Answer 1

Like many fruits and vegetables, the sugar level in a plantain increases as it ripens.

• Green plantains are very starchy and hard. You must cook them to eat them. They can be used much like a potato (think chopped & put in soups or mashed as a side dish). Fried green plantains are referred to as "tostones."
• Yellow plantains still require cooking, but they are sweet (unlike green plantains). These work pretty well for frying and steaming.
• Black (super-ripe) plantains do not have to be cooked; they can be eaten raw. They have soft flesh and a scent like a banana, though still not as sweet as typical bananas. When these super-ripe plantains are fried, they are referred to as "platanos maduros" (ripe plantains) or "platanos fritos" (fried plantains).

Regarding use by different cultures:

Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras and Jamaica: the plantain is either simply fried, boiled or added to a soup.
Kerala: ripe plantain is steamed and is a popular breakfast dish.
Ghana: boiled plantain is eaten with kontomire stew, cabbage stew or fante-fante (fish) stew. The boiled plaintain can be mixed with groundnut paste, pepper, onion and palm oil to make eto, which is eaten with avocado.
Southern United States, particularly in Texas, Louisiana and Florida: plantains are most often grilled.
Nigeria: plantain is eaten boiled, fried or roasted; roasted plantain, called booli is usually eaten with palm oil or groundnut.
(source)

Answer 2

Here in Jamaica we also use the green plaintains to make porridge. The ripe ones can be used to make plantain tarts. We also eat the ripe ones boiled as a starchy food.

Answer 3

In the South Indian state of Kerala, the ripe (yellow and black) and the unripe (green) plantains are used differently in dishes.

1. The ripe ones are pressure cooked/steamed and eaten with puttu (steamed rice cake) and is a good breakfast item. It is also used in Pazham Payasam (plantain pudding with jaggery and ghee/clarified butter).

2. The green ones are used in savoury dishes such as stir fries (Ethakka Mezhukkupuratti) and Avial (dry mixed vegetable curry with coconut).

Another popular dish is Kalan which is served during feasts and is essentially yoghurt curry with plantains. The semi-ripe plantains are sliced laterally and fried to make "banana chips".

Answer 4

In Malawi, green plantains are cooked as a savory dish 'mbalagha' a stew cooked mainly with beef, pork, and goat meat. In the central and southern cooked as savory usually cooked in alcohol drinking places 'chilabu'. Mang'ina as is called. Ripe plantains are usually eaten for breakfast as a delicacy