Green Plantains with Fish and Fried Cheese 

If you’re craving a special Caribbean-inspired treat, these Green Plantains (Tostones) with Fish and Cheese are great for a weekend family lunch. Tostones, also called patacones in some countries, are fried plantains – usually sliced, smashed, and fried twice for crispiness. In this recipe, we use whole plantains, fried to golden deliciousness, as the base for layers of fish and cheese.

The dish takes a little time, but it’s worth it: the ingredients are fried to perfection to achieve the ideal crunch and flavor. The plantains are then layered with fried fish, Tropical Queso de Freír, and Taco Natural Cheese Blend for a melty experience, finishing with a drizzle of Crema Centroamericana mixed with ketchup.

This isn’t an everyday meal, but it’s a showstopper for a leisurely weekend lunch. Crunchy, savory, and full of authentic Tropical Caribbean flavors.

Ingredients

• 2 green plantains 
• 6 cups canola oil
• 2 fish fillets (such as snapper or tilapia)
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 lime cut into wedges 
• 4 slices of Tropical Queso de Freír
• 2 cups of Tropical Shredded Taco Blend
• 1 cup Tropical Crema Centroamericana 
• ½ cup ketchup 
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Peel the plantains.
3. Heat 4 cups of oil in a large skillet. When the oil is hot, immerse the whole plantains and fry them on both sides, approximately 3½ minutes per side.
4. Remove the plantains from the skillet and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate. Flatten them by placing a plate on top and pressing down.
5. Return them to the hot oil and fry for 1 minute on each side. Remove from the skillet, drain on paper towels, and salt immediately.
6. Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
7. Place the flour in a wide, shallow bowl and toss the fish in it to coat evenly.
8. Fry each fillet in the hot oil (the same oil used for the plantains) until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Set aside.
9. In a medium skillet, heat the remaining 2 cups of clean canola oil and fry the Queso de Freír slices until golden brown. Place them on a paper-towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
10. Place the fried plantains on a baking sheet. Layer on top the fried fish, two slices of fried cheese, and sprinkle with Taco Natural Cheese Blend.
11. Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
12. Meanwhile, mix the Crema with ketchup and fresh lime juice.
13. Remove from the oven and plate individually. Drizzle with the desired amount of sauce and finish with chopped cilantro.
14. Serve with black beans, white rice, and a fresh salad.