Healthy Patacones with green sauce

Healthy Baked Patacones, a healthy take on the classic fried Costa Rican patacones. Smashed plantains baked and served with a green herb sauce. You may realize this dish is how to start a very tropical culinary adventure on your own! Easy to make, and delicious! Very common and scrumptious treat in Costa Rica, and the Caribbean.

INGREDIENTS Patacones

• 3 plantains

• 1/2 teaspoon oil

• Pinch of salt and pepper

Green sauce

• 3 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1/3 cup cilantro

• 2 green onions, chopped (green and white parts)

• 1/3 cup olive oil

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1/8 teaspoon cumin

• 1/8 teaspoon oregano

• Juice and zest of 1/2 lime

• Pinch of salt and pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Patacones

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C)

2. Slice plantains into 1 inch (2.5 cm) sections. Place in a bowl and toss with oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Using a smooth-bottomed bowl or glass, smash each plantain (see photo above for example). Place smashed plantains on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake 10 minutes, then flip and bake about 5 minutes more (don't burn!).

4. If you'd like the patacones to be a bit crispier, heat a small amount of oil in a frying pan and heat them until they start to harden, about 3 minutes each side. Serve immediately with mojo sauce.

Green sauce

1. Place chopped garlic, cilantro, chopped green onions, and bit of olive oil in a food processor and pulse until chopped but not blended.

2. Add the rest of the olive oil, salt, black pepper, red pepper, cumin, oregano, lime juice, and lime zest. Pulse until integrated, but not smooth (about 5-6 pulses).

3. Serve with patacones.