Fresh Fried Plantains on the Streets of Haiti

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Last February, I was in Haiti as part of a #Bloggers4Haiti trip on behalf of Heart of Haiti, a “trade not aid program” developed by the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Willa Shalit in partnership with Macy’s to promote sustainable income in the arts for Haitians. Our trip began in Port-au-Prince and took us to the southern coast to the lovely ocean side town of Jacmel which is known for its papier-mâché.

While touring the different papier-mâché studios, I looked outside the window and saw this woman. There she was seated alongside the street, making fresh friend plantains one of my most favorite treats! As my mouth started to water, I grabbed my camera to capture the process of making them street side. For less than a $1 we bought a bag to share and they were just as fresh and delicious as they looked.

First the plantains are sliced. They are either sliced long and thin like a french fry or flat and round like a potato chip.

Next the plantains are pressed in a wood contraception as shown in the photo below. This gets any moisture out of them and also shapes them.

Finally, they are dipped in oil and fried right there on the street.

Mmmm…..they are wonderful and even better with an icy, cold Prestige, the local beer which is of course sold on the street.

I could eat fried plantains every single day I love them so much. Unfortunately I can’t replicate the delightful, fresh taste of the ones I’ve had in the Caribbean or Central America. Guess I’ll just have to travel more.

To read more about my trip to Haiti, click here. I also recently published this post about my reflections on Haiti on ONE.org. 

In case you missed last week’s photo challenge on the amazing street art I captured in NYC, click here.

This post was inspired by the Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh. 

 

40 thoughts on “Fresh Fried Plantains on the Streets of Haiti”

  1. Lola Jane – Monterey Peninsula, California – Advocate for planet Earth, grandmother, Philippine born, US Air Force Veteran. I blog about topics related to conservation and the environment, living in the California Central Coast, and Philippine-related development topics, to understand challenges faced by developing nations like my home country. I believe we are all connected -- no matter what part of the world we live in -- and positive that we have the capacity to solve our problems…if we know what they are.
    Lola Jane on said:

    That is making me hungry, too! And it reminds me of the fried bananas street food in the Philippines as well — we put ours on a barbeque “stick” – a bamboo stick. It is a sweet, cooked with brown sugar, which caramelizes over the bananas called “saba”. Photos here in case you want to see http://nativeleaf.info/?p=552

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh that sounds good Lola! I wish we could get fresher produce here. I miss it!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Don’t you love the fresh fruit you get when you go south? I miss it!

      Reply ↓

  3. Pingback: Fresh – Jumbo Candy Corn, Still on the Vine | tnkerr-Writing Prompts and Practice

  4. Inside the Mind of Isadora – Intriguing, sensitive, mysterious, loving, artistic and crackling with excitement for life is a pretty good description of who I am. I just retired from the world of art where I sold my Artfully Designed Handmade Jewelry for 28 years; although, art will always be a part of who I am, no matter what venue I choose to express it in.
    Inside the Mind of Isadora on said:

    I love fried plantains. I flatten them with a paper bag. It helps to eliminate the grease for the 2nd frying. I brush them with fresh chopper garlic and MMMmmmm … Mmmmmm Good !!!!
    WOW … $i.00 for a bag. They’re 2 for a dollar here in Florida. People who aren’t latin can’t believe plantains can be eaten. Especially the green ones. Nice photos of the process. : )

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      That is a good technique! I will have to try it next time I make fried plantains. I can never get them to Taste so good though.

      Reply ↓
      • Inside the Mind of Isadora – Intriguing, sensitive, mysterious, loving, artistic and crackling with excitement for life is a pretty good description of who I am. I just retired from the world of art where I sold my Artfully Designed Handmade Jewelry for 28 years; although, art will always be a part of who I am, no matter what venue I choose to express it in.
        Inside the Mind of Isadora on said:

        Hot Hot Hot oil is most important. Drop a droplet of water in the oil. If it sizzles. It’s ready to put the plantains in. If you cut the 1st circle about 1/2″ it works better too. If they’re think they don’t cook inside. Hope that helps. 😃

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Thanks for the tip! Ok…I will give this all a whirl!!!

  5. rodi (Rob and Diane) – Walnut Creek, CA USA – I was recently downsized from my financial services position which didn't really bother me since both my wife and I hate our jobs even though they are secure (hers anyway) and pay relatively well. We've been planning on retiring early for some time now, mostly through diligent saving and taking annual vacations to possible retirement destinations. Rather than attempt another job search we decided to sell the house and stuff and give early retirement a go at ages 50/43. Since we're self directed investors and I'm from the industry, we think we'll be fine as long as we begin in a country with a lower cost of living. We've chosen Penang, Malaysia although we've not yet been there, making this an experimental leap of faith. I must be age 50 and show current income in order to qualify for the residency visa of choice therefore one of us (not me) must keep working until April, 2015. I decided to start the blog ahead of the move since I figured we'd be overwhelmed and I'm a total newbie to blogging. So please excuse the long transitional category which is all I can post since we're not actually expats yet. Well, technically my wife is since she's a Canadian citizen living in the USA, although she was naturalized in 2014. Cheers !!
    rodi (Rob and Diane) on said:

    Awesome little piece of blogging. Thanks for sharing

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

      Reply ↓
  6. lulu – Houston, TX & Rockport, ME – I am a fiber artist with special emphasis on weaving, but I love working with threads and cloth in a variety of mediums. New ideas, new ways of connecting threads are the spice of life.
    lulu on said:

    Wonder why it is that the photos of people we take in other places are so surrounded with color. It makes the photo so much more interesting.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Good question Lulu! I think it is because other places are more colorful in a way.

      Reply ↓
  7. Marilyn Albright – Home Based in Sterling, Alaska – Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula has been home for more than 40 years. My husband, David, and I live on 10 acres of forest near the town of Soldotna. We are more or less retired, meaning we are retired from gainful employment but not from life! Our son lives in Australia and our daughter in Colorado. Photography, fiber arts, reading, and hiking/walking are some of my interests, and David shares my love of gardening, camping, cooking, and traveling, plus he is our tech expert.
    Marilyn Albright on said:

    What I wouldn’t give for some of those right now! I agree – fried plantains are the best! I love her facial expressions.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Me too! I love them!

      Reply ↓

  8. I’m with you on that- love fried plantains! I was in heaven when we went to Puerto Rico.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I would love to go to Puerto Rico! Haven’t been there before.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks for the comment!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Wow, beautiful blog and photos! I love your theme too with the photo header spreading all across the width of the screen. Gorgeous!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks! It is delicious but hard to get the plantains as fresh as you can where they naturally grow.

      Reply ↓
  12. Jane Lurie – Hello! Berenice Abbott said, “Photography helps people to see.” It is satisfying when someone looks at one of my images and remarks that they now see something in a new way. I hope that my photographs delight and surprise you.
    Jane Lurie on said:

    This is a beautiful series- tells an interesting story and the images have great clarity and composition. Super.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you! I loved the colors. It was a bright and hot sunny day and the salty plantains tasted marvelous as well. 🙂

      Reply ↓
  13. anotherday2paradise – Durban South Africa and Florida USA – I enjoy writing about absolutely anything, and started blogging with WordPress in 2012. This was my 'Hammock Lady' blog, and I really enjoyed sharing my travels here: http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/ In November 2013, I decided it was time for a change of scenery, so I started my blog afresh, and here it is. I love to travel, and have been fortunate enough to do two round-the-world trips and visit more than forty countries so far. This year we visited our 7th continent, Antarctica. I enjoy photographing wildlife, especially in my backyard in Florida. I was born and brought up in England. My husband and I emigrated to South Africa in 1970. We now live in Florida, USA. I have a son and a daughter and five gorgeous grandchildren currently aged between 6 and 21 years. I'm so happy that you've taken the time to visit my blog, and would love for you to join me on my travels. Sylvia.
    anotherday2paradise on said:

    Great photos, Nicole. I had plantains several times when we were in Costa Rica. They were really delicious. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh I think Costa Rica has the best produce I’ve ever tasted. Everything there is perfectly ripe and fresh.

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed!

      Reply ↓
  15. rocketdow – I am a hard working mother of three. Currently I am a supervisor for 8 urgent cares in the Twin Cities. A large part of my life is spent working as a Physician Assistant. More recently I started a pre-pa coaching business. Check out my Facebook page www.facebook.com/pastrek. I also spend time teaching at PA programs when I have time. Life is a beautiful struggle, people search through the rubble for a suitable hustle, some people using their noodle some people using their muscle, put it all together make it fit like a puzzle.
    rocketdow on said:

    I love fried plantains too! One of my fav treats in Haiti as well. Victors in minneapolis does em really well 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh I love Victors! Ito is such a cool place!

      Reply ↓

  16. Pingback: Ruined for Life: Phoenix Edition

  17. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh | Beijing Daily Photo 2

  18. I’m glad you like the plantain chips. In Nicaragua they are cooked so many different ways. The only way I like them is when the really sweet, fresh ones are flattened and fried. They call them tostones. Yum! I think I’ll go make some now. 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Mmmm I will have to try them someday! Now I’m hungry! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      I first had plantains in Honduras and grew to love them as much as fresh tortillas.

      Reply ↓

  20. Pingback: Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh | Here & Abroad

  21. Nilzeitung – West Europas – Danke für ihren Besuch.!!"dieser Seite im Aufbau". Es stimmt, dass es keine Freiheit ohne Pressefreiheit gibt. Wahrer Frieden des Journalismus ist eine der Säulen der Demokratie (Salah El-Nemr) se/nz.
    nilzeitung on said:

    Reblogged this on Nilzeitung.

    Reply ↓

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