Brazilian recipe
Easy homemade plantain farofa (Farofa de banana-da-terra)
A crunchy and flavourful plantain farofa recipe that makes a brilliant side dish, combining sweet caramelised fruit with toasted corn flour.
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Ingredients
2 green plantains
2 cups yellow flaked maize meal
75 g butter, cubed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 cups yellow flaked maize meal
75 g butter, cubed
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Where to find ingredients
You can find plantains at specialty tropical grocers or select greengrocers, while yellow flaked maize meal, butter, and oil are readily available in the baking and pantry aisles of any local supermarket like Countdown or New World. Substitute: fine polenta can be used if flaked maize meal is unavailable, though the texture will be slightly different.
Preparation method
- Trim the ends of the plantains and peel them
- Cut each plantain in half lengthways
- Cut each half lengthways once more
- If the strips are rather thick, slice them into three pieces
- Dice each piece of plantain into roughly 1 cm cubes
- Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat
- Pour the oil into the pan
- Add the diced plantains to the pan and season with a pinch of salt
- Fry for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly caramelised; cooking times can vary depending on ripeness, as riper fruit browns faster
- Reduce the heat
- Add the cubed butter to the pan and stir until completely melted
- Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and black pepper to taste
- Gradually add the maize meal, stirring continuously with a spatula to incorporate everything evenly
- Cook for a further 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until the farofa is crunchy and golden brown
- Remove from the heat and serve the farofa straight away
Observations
Plantain farofa is a traditional Brazilian side dish celebrated for its wonderful contrast of textures and tastes. The natural sweetness of the caramelised plantain balances beautifully against the crispness of the toasted flour, making it a versatile addition to any meal. This recipe is straightforward and quick to whip up, perfect when you want to add a special touch to your everyday cooking.
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