Fried plantains make a delightful dish, and pairing them with the right sides can enhance their sweet, savory flavors. Consider serving them with black beans and rice, which offer a hearty, nutritious complement. Grilled chicken, with its smoky charred taste, adds a balanced, protein-rich touch. Shrimp skewers, marinated in herbs and citrus, provide a light, flavorful option. An avocado salad brings freshness and creaminess, while sautéed vegetables add both nutrition and vibrant colors. These combinations create a perfect harmony of tastes and textures, making your meal both satisfying and exciting. Curious about more delicious pairings? There's much more to discover!
Black Beans and Rice
Black beans and rice, a staple in Latin American cuisine, offer a nutritious and flavorful complement to fried plantains. This classic dish is rich in fiber and protein, providing essential nutrients like iron and folate.
The mild flavor of rice absorbs the savory seasonings of the beans, creating a versatile side that can be enhanced with onions, garlic, and spices.
Grilled Chicken
Another excellent pairing with fried plantains is grilled chicken, whose smoky charred flavor complements the sweetness of the plantains.
This combination offers a balanced meal with varied textures and flavors. Grilled chicken, seasoned with herbs, spices, or citrus, provides a versatile and protein-rich option.
It's a popular and accessible choice that pairs well with the simplicity of fried plantains.
Shrimp Skewers
Shrimp skewers provide a delectable and protein-rich accompaniment to fried plantains, enhancing the meal with their savory and flavorful profile.
Grilled or pan-seared, shrimp skewers offer a quick, low-calorie side dish. Marinating the shrimp in herbs, garlic, and citrus further elevates their taste.
This pairing creates a perfect balance of sweet and savory, making your plate both nutritious and delicious.
Avocado Salad
Avocado salad serves as a fresh and creamy side dish that pairs perfectly with fried plantains. Made with ripe avocados, fresh vegetables, herbs, and a tangy dressing, this salad offers a delightful contrast of textures and flavors. It provides healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and essential vitamins.
Customize it with tomatoes, cucumbers, or feta cheese to enhance its versatility and appeal.
Sautéed Vegetables
Sautéed vegetables offer a nutritious and visually appealing side dish that complements the sweetness of fried plantains. Quickly cooked in a skillet with olive oil, garlic, and seasonal vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and mushrooms, they retain their nutrients and natural flavors.
Seasoned with herbs such as thyme or basil, sautéed vegetables add a variety of textures and flavors to your plate.
Mango Salsa
Following the vibrant colors and flavors of sautéed vegetables, mango salsa offers a rejuvenating and tropical complement to the sweet and savory taste of fried plantains.
This delightful mix of diced mangoes, red onions, cilantro, jalapenos, and lime juice creates a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.
Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, mango salsa enhances both the flavor and nutritional value of the meal.
Coconut Rice
Coconut rice, with its creamy texture and subtle sweetness, offers a perfect balance to the salty and crunchy profile of fried plantains. Easy to make, this dish adds a tropical touch to your meal.
Its comforting and flavorful essence elevates the overall taste, making it a delightful accompaniment. Coconut rice truly enhances the bold flavors of fried plantains.
Beef Empanadas
Beef empanadas, with their savory filling of seasoned ground beef, onions, and peppers encased in a golden, crispy dough, make a delicious and hearty side dish for fried plantains. These turnovers, popular in Latin American cuisine, can be baked or fried.
They complement the sweetness of fried sweet plantains perfectly, offering a delightful contrast in flavors and textures for an enjoyable meal.
Chicken Stew
Chicken stew, with its robust flavors and comforting warmth, serves as an ideal companion to the sweetness of fried plantains. This hearty dish, made with tender chicken, vegetables, and rich seasonings, provides essential proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
The savory nature of chicken stew perfectly balances the sugary notes of fried plantains, creating a satisfying and well-rounded meal that's both nutritious and delicious.
Garlic Shrimp
Why not elevate your meal with garlic shrimp, a delectable seafood option that harmoniously complements the sweetness of fried plantains?
This quick and easy dish balances the buttery sweetness of plantains with savory, garlic-infused shrimp.
Rich in lean protein, garlic shrimp offers a delightful contrast of flavors and textures, making it an ideal companion for your fried plantains.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw, with its invigorating crunch and tangy dressing, serves as a revitalizing counterpart to the rich flavors of fried plantains. Made with shredded cabbage and carrots, coleslaw offers a rejuvenating contrast to the creamy texture of fried plantains.
Topped with green onions or paprika, this versatile side dish can be easily customized with different herbs or seasonings, enhancing your meal's overall appeal.
Jollof Rice
Jollof rice, a quintessential West African dish, captivates with its vibrant red hue and robust, spicy tomato-based flavors. This one-pot meal, often enjoyed at festive gatherings, harmonizes sweet tomatoes, onions, peppers, and a blend of spices.
Traditionally paired with meats or enjoyed as a vegetarian delight, Jollof rice complements fried plantains perfectly, creating a balanced and flavorful culinary experience.
Quinoa Salad
Moving away from the rich and spicy flavors of Jollof rice, quinoa salad offers a revitalizing and nutritious counterpart to fried plantains.
Packed with protein, fiber, and essential nutrients like magnesium and iron, this gluten-free side dish can be customized with various veggies, herbs, and nuts.
Its light, fluffy texture wonderfully contrasts with the caramelized sweetness of fried plantains, creating a balanced meal.
Roasted Pork
Roasted pork stands as a classic pairing with fried plantains, offering a savory and juicy protein option that enhances the overall meal.
The richness of roasted pork perfectly complements the sweetness of fried plantains, creating a well-balanced dish.
Whether using pork loin or shoulder, slow-roasting with herbs and spices adds depth of flavor, while crispy skin and tender meat provide a delightful textural contrast.
What Side Dishes Pair Well with Fried Plantains?
Fried plantains are best paired with classic Caribbean flavors like rice and beans, mixed green salad, and coleslaw. However, for a unique pairing, consider serving them with the best side dishes for smoked whitefish such as cucumber dill salad, roasted vegetables, or a creamy potato salad.
Lentil Soup
Lentil soup, a nutrient-dense and hearty dish, makes an excellent companion to the sweet and crispy fried plantains. Popular in African cuisine, this protein-rich soup features lentils, vegetables, and spices like cumin or turmeric for added depth.
The comforting blend of flavors and textures creates a balanced meal when paired with plantain slices, offering a delightful mix of sweet and savory.