Book of Days Tales

The second Monday in January is a public holiday celebrating the birthday (January 11, 1839) of Eugenio María de Hostos y de Bonilla, a teacher and lawyer with a strong agenda for the independence of Puerto Rico. His aspirations for the island never materialized and it is still in a state of limbo – not a full part of the US, but not independent either.  Puerto Ricans living in the mainland of the US are typically treated as second class citizens – clumped together with immigrants from Mexico, Nicaragua, etc., presumably because Spanish is their first language.

Tostones (fried plantain) are an old fav of mine. My Puerto Rican students used to make them for me on occasion

Ingredients

1 green plantain
5 tablespoons oil for frying
3 cups cold water
salt to taste

Instructions

Peel the plantain and cut into 1-inch slices. Fill a bowl with 3 cups of cold water.

Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the plantain slices in an even layer and fry on both sides until golden brown.

Transfer the plantain slices to a chopping board and flatten each one by placing a small plate on top and pressing down. My students used to put the slices inside a brown paper bag and then do the flattening.

Dip the plantain slices in cold water.

Reheat the oil in the skillet over medium heat and cook the plantain slices for 1 minute on each side.

Season to taste with salt and serve immediately.