Boiled Plantains for Breakfast – Heart Healthy Way to Start the Day

Lidl (lee-dil) is a new grocery store that opened in Middletown a few weeks ago, and although there is an Aldi and Super Walmart right across the street, I guess one more grocery store won’t hurt – especially if the price is right – and believe me on Grand Opening weekend the prices were right.

Although I am originally from New York and had lived with a Jamaican family for a while as well as traveled to many Caribbean Islands, I have never eaten a Plantain.  They are larger and harder than ordinary bananas so I figured they wouldn’t be good – boy was I wrong, not only are they good, they are healthy too.

I ran into a fellow Avon Rep, a latina who was buying a few Plantains not only because they were 19 cents each, but she told me that her family loves them and gave me a few recipes to try, which is what I did.  She suggested that I boil and mash them for a heart healthy breakfast cereal.  So I took her advice and added some organic raisins and honey to the recipe and it was delicious!

Ingredients:

1 – Plantain  (ripe yellow)

1 – Cup Organic Raisins

1 – Tablespoon Organic Honey

1 – Stick unsalted Butter

1 – Cup Water

Ground Cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

• Peel and dice ripen Plantain – cut off each end for easier skin removal
• Heat non-stick pan on low heat
• Add stick of butter and allow to melt 
• Add Plantain and cook on low for 10-15 minutes
• Mash until soften
• Add Organic Raisins and Honey
• *Add Cup of Water
• Boil on Low Heat for 20 minutes or until desired consistency
• Serve with a few sprinkles of Ground Cinnamon (optional)

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* Since this was the first time boiling a Plantain, I realized that you can add the water first which will lessen the cooking time.

Let’s Chat:  Have you ever eaten a Plantain?  If so, how do you prepare it?