Pan-Seared Plantains with Spicy Garlic Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Sweet ripe plantains pan-seared to golden perfection and served with a punchy garlic and chili sauce for a popular Puerto Rican snack. This Puerto Rican-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, turns ripe plantains, vegetable oil, garlic cloves into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 220 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 10 min Serves 4 Puerto Rican cuisine 220 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add 3 large peeled and diagonally sliced ripe plantains in a single layer.
  2. Step 2: Cook the plantains undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown, then flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes until all sides are caramelized and tender.
  3. Step 3: Remove plantains from the skillet and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
  4. Step 4: In the same skillet over medium heat, add 5 minced garlic cloves and 1/2 tsp red chili flakes. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp lime juice and 1/2 tsp salt.
  6. Step 6: Drizzle the spicy garlic sauce over the warm plantains and garnish with 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately.

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