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.
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
Oh that sounds good Lola! I wish we could get fresher produce here. I miss it!
Yum, Nicole! Had some great plantains last year in Costa Rica. Enjoy the weekend, plantains or not.
janet
Don’t you love the fresh fruit you get when you go south? I miss it!
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. : )
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.
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. 😃
Thanks for the tip! Ok…I will give this all a whirl!!!
Awesome little piece of blogging. Thanks for sharing
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!
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.
Good question Lulu! I think it is because other places are more colorful in a way.
What I wouldn’t give for some of those right now! I agree – fried plantains are the best! I love her facial expressions.
Me too! I love them!
I’m with you on that- love fried plantains! I was in heaven when we went to Puerto Rico.
I would love to go to Puerto Rico! Haven’t been there before.
Great pix and a great cause.
Thanks for the comment!
Breathtaking! check out my blog if you love travel photography 😀
Wow, beautiful blog and photos! I love your theme too with the photo header spreading all across the width of the screen. Gorgeous!
Thank you so much! 😀
Oh nice! Fried Plantain looks easy to make though:) I think i will give it a shot:) Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! It is delicious but hard to get the plantains as fresh as you can where they naturally grow.
This is a beautiful series- tells an interesting story and the images have great clarity and composition. Super.
Thank you! I loved the colors. It was a bright and hot sunny day and the salty plantains tasted marvelous as well. 🙂
Great photos, Nicole. I had plantains several times when we were in Costa Rica. They were really delicious. 🙂
Oh I think Costa Rica has the best produce I’ve ever tasted. Everything there is perfectly ripe and fresh.
this posts reminds me of street food in Nepal….thanks for sharing this post
You’re welcome! Glad you enjoyed!
I love fried plantains too! One of my fav treats in Haiti as well. Victors in minneapolis does em really well 🙂
Oh I love Victors! Ito is such a cool place!
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. 🙂
Mmmm I will have to try them someday! Now I’m hungry! 🙂
This reminds me so much of my travels in Central America. When I first arrived I wasn’t a fan of plantain but by the time I left it was my snack of choice!
I first had plantains in Honduras and grew to love them as much as fresh tortillas.
Reblogged this on Nilzeitung.