Fufu de Platanos - Sweet Plantain Mash

I am making some Fufu today, just because I had some plantains that were getting really ripe in the house. It is really easy to make and I like adding onions, garlic, and bacon to it so that you get the sweet and salty taste all in one bite. I am not really sure that this is how it was ever made in my home, my grandmother was more likely to boil up some platanos maduros and mash them up with a fork without any other embellishment.

Here is what you'll need. It is an overcast and rainy day in Miami, so the lighting for the pictures stinks.

Cut up the plantains into chunks.

Peel 2 cloves of garlic. Put the plantain chunks and the garlic cloves in a pot of water and boil until the plantains are tender. About 20 minutes.

Chop a small onion. It will be about 1/2 cup.

While you are boiling the plantains, heat up 1 tablespoon olive oil and add the chopped onions. Cook until the onions are translucent.

I don't know how to fry bacon, so I just microwaved 3 slices of Boar's Head pre-cooked bacon. Then I chopped it up.

Once the plantains are tender, carefully remove the plantain from the boiling water.

You can peel the plantain with a fork and knife.

Mash up the plantains and the garlic cloves. Add in the bacon and the onions.

This is a great side dish for just about anything -- palomilla steak, chicken, picadillo.

FUFU DE PLATANO - SWEET PLANTAIN MASH

Ingredients

• 2 very ripe sweet plantains (almost black), chopped into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 3 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Preparation

1. Place the sweet plantain chunks and garlic cloves in a pot of water and boil until tender.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pan. Add the onions and cook until translucent over medium heat.
3. When the plantains are tender, remove from the water, peel and discard peels. Mash the plantains and garlic cloves.
4. Add the cooked onion and chopped bacon to the plantain mash and mix until well combined.