2-Ingredient Easy Plantain Fritters recipe. Gluten-free, vegan, flourless fritters that can be baked or pan-fried. These fritters take just 15 minutes to make. They're naturally sweet and delicious and are perfect for breakfast or a side dish.
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Ripe sweet plantains are a staple in Jamaica, where I was born and raised! I enjoy turning them into fritters and freezing them to pair with chilis, stews, or curries. Their subtle sweetness complements these dishes perfectly.
Try pairing these Easy Plantain Fritters with this Easy Vegan Chili with Peanut Butter on this site, or my Vegan Chili for a tasty and balanced meal.
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👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- Plantains are a starch type of fruit that is similar to bananas but with some nutritional differences. They are a good source of complex carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, and vitamins A and C. To make these fritters lower in sugar, use plantains that are less ripe. The fritters will be less sweet, but even healthier. For sweet fritters, overripe plantains with black spots work best.
- Arrowroot is a starch that binds the mashed plantain, similar to cornstarch or flour. It's naturally gluten-free, and neutral in flavor. It also gives these plantain fritters a light and crispy texture, with a crunchy crust and moist insides.
- Seasonings are optional. Garlic powder adds a savory garlicky flavor and chili powder adds a kick, but feel free to use spices of your choice.
See the recipe card for quantities.
🍌 Substitutions
- Plantains - substitute with three medium-large bananas as needed
- Seasoning - use nutmeg, cinnamon, paprika, onion powder, or seasonings of your choice
- Arrowroot - the arrowroot can be substituted with an equal amount of cornstarch
- For oil-free - bake the fitters instead of pan-frying. Or brush them lightly with oil and air fry.
Pair these fritters with these Quinoa Black Bean Burgers for a meal-prep-friendly combo.
📖 How to Make Plantain Fritters
Step 1. Cut the tips off the planting and make a slit down the side to easily remove the skins. Mash them until mostly smooth.
Step 2. Add the arrowroot, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt and mix well.
To Pan-Fry (Step 1). Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet. Once the oil is shimmering, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter for each fritter.
To Pan-Fry (Step 2). Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
To Bake: Dollop 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet for each fritter. Bake at 375ºF for about 12 minutes, flipping them over halfway through.
💡 Expert Tips
- Plantains: Use overripe plantains for sweeter fritters. The more ripe the plantain, the easier it is to mash, and the sweeter it is. Use less ripe plantains (yellow and without black spots, or green) for less sweet fritters.
- Oil-free: Bake or air-fry the fritters for oil-free. However, while oil is optional, a little goes a long way in getting the fritters crispier. I recommend brushing them lightly with oil halfway through baking or air frying for crispier fritters.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftover Plantain Fritters in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the microwave, skillet, or in an oven at 360ºF until warmed through. To freeze, layer the fritters in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper to separate the layers so they do not stick. Freeze for up to 3 months.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
A plantain fritter is a savory or sweet dish made from ripe or unripe plantains, which are mashed with various other ingredients and then deep-fried or pan-fried for a crispy, golden-brown exterior. They are particularly popular in Caribbean, African, and Latin American cooking. They can be served as an appetizer, side dish, or snack.
Plantains are a good source of resistant starch which is known to promote gut health by acting as a prebiotic, feeding beneficial gut bacteria. However, unripe or green plantains have the highest amount of resistant starch. As they ripen, the starches convert to more easily digestible sugars, reducing the resistant starch content. Consuming boiled green plantain is an excellent way to increase resistant starch intake.
Plantains easily absorb oil which which can raise their calorie count. Less oil is absorbed with pan frying versus deep frying. For pan frying, use a nonstick pan and use enough oil to just cover the surface of the skillet. Flatten the fritter with the back of the spoon so it cooks evenly without the need for excess oil. Keep a close eye on the fritters as they can burn. Bake or air fry for oil-free or less oil.
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Plantain Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 medium-large plantains ripe (yellow skins with black spots)
- 4 tablespoons arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Dash of salt
- Neutral-flavored cooking oil for pan frying (optional)
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Instructions
- Mash plantains: In a large bowl, mash the plantains with a fork until mostly smooth with some chunks remaining.
- Prepare batter: Add the arrowroot powder, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well to combine.
- Heat oil: Add enough oil to cover the base of a large non-stick skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat.Add batter: Once the oil is shimmering, add 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter for each fritter. Use the back of a spoon to flatten the batter into a circular shape.Cook fritters: Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
- To bake: Dollop 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet for each fritter. Bake at 375ºF for about 12 minutes, flipping them over halfway through. Brush the fritters lightly with oil halfway through cooking (optional). To air-fry: Line an air fryer basket with parchment paper. Dollop 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet for each fritter. Set the temperature to 375ºF and cook for about 7 minutes or until golden brown. Brush the fritters lightly with oil halfway through cooking (optional).
Notes
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- Plantains: Use overripe plantains for sweeter fritters. The more ripe the plantain, the easier it is to mash, and the sweeter it is. Use less ripe plantains (yellow and without black spots) for less sweet fritters.
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- Oil-free: Bake or air-fry the fritters for oil-free. However, while oil is optional, a little goes a long way in getting the fritters crispier. I recommend brushing them lightly with oil halfway through baking or air frying for crispier fritters.
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- Storage: Refrigerate leftover Plantain Fritters in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the microwave, skillet, or in an oven at 360ºF until warmed through. To freeze, layer the fritters in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper to separate the layers so they do not stick. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
Neena Chandiramani says
Plantain fritters, wow, I really enjoyed making these both baked and pan fried. This was a treat!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
So glad you enjoyed these fritters. Thank you.