Platanos en Tentacíon
/Sometimes my family sits around and has noisy, opinionated andpointless discussions. (Hello? Cubans!) In this case, we were discussing the wonders of plantains and engaging in the Eternal Cuban debate:
Maduros or Tostones?
It depends on the main dish you’re serving, of course. I mean, I love a good tostón with garlic sauce. (Who doesn’t?) But I tend to be partial to sweet plantains or maduros.
In the midst of this discussion, my mom threw a wrench into the works when she declared rather regally and with great finality: “Platanos en tentacion.” (Rougly translated: Plantains in temptation. I know. I said roughly.)
Of course, you don’t just throw out a random suggestion like this with a group of noisy and opinionated Cuban women who all have their own particular versions of how to cook things.
It was like throwing gas on a fire.
“If you don’t have enough rum, they’re not as good.”
“The rum makes takes away too much of the sweetness.”
The discussion went on and on and even though I had not made these before, I quickly determined that they would be most tasty with just the cinnamon-caramel-glaze and it seemed to me that the rum was a bit superfluous anyway. (See? Opinionated.)
So, my daughters and I started messing with maduros and came up with a rather to-die-for concoction and took those maduros to the Next Level. Seriously.
They turned out so amazing that I'm convinced you could travel through time after eating these.
What I could not completely determine, however, was whether these caramel-glazed plantains would be better served as a side dish or as a stand alone dessert? Maybe over ice cream?
Your thoughts?
Platanos en Tentacíon
- Goya frozen maduros* - cooked according to package directions
- 6 oz. sweetened condensed milk
- Ground cinnamon
*I decided the frozen maduros, which could be heated through first, worked well enough. Frying plantains would make them a little too heavy for this dish, but that's not important right now.
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Place cooked plantains in a baking dish.
2) Pour sweetened condensed milk over them.
3) Sprinkle with cinnamon.
4) Bake for 35 minutes.
5) Serve hot with __________. (Your thoughts?)
My mom, Luza, enjoying MY Platanos en Tentacíon.
Buen Provecho!
"But why is the rum gone?" ~ Captain Jack Sparrow
