Plantain chips are delicious snacks that are made, sold and eaten in Guyana and around the world. For starters, the children love it, it is a perfect go-to snack for them to munch on. These chips are usually sold at school canteens, in the market, in the supermarket or even at the side of the road by vendors. These types of chips can be sliced round and thin or long and thin. They are often eaten with sour or achar. Read on to find out how it is made.
Plantain Chips – Photo By Barthateslisa – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40762079
What Is Plantain Chips?
Plantain chips (also called as chifles, mariquitas, or chicharritas) are chips made from thinly sliced green-yellow plantains that are deep-fried until crisp and golden and sprinkled with seasoning to taste. They are a popular snack in the Caribbean, Africa, Peru and Ecuador and other parts of the world.
The truth is plantain chips are high in fat and calories if you decide to fry them. But nevertheless, it is a lesser evil compared to all of those processed potato chips and other greasy snacks you get from the store. Somehow it contains fiber, some vitamins and minerals and lesser sodium content compared to its popular counterpart potato chips.
How To Make Fried Plantain Chips?
The thinner you slice the plantains the crispier the chips will be. It’s important to drain the chips on some sort of absorbent paper or it will be soggy. You can use a kitchen aid slice such as a mandoline to make really thin chips.
Ingredients:
- 3 green plantains
- Salt to taste
- oil for frying
Method:
- Cut the ends off plantains and peel them. Make a thin slice on the skin and this will help you to peel them easily.
- Be careful as plantains are known to stain clothing.
- Cut plantains in half as they will be easier to work with.
- Lay them on their side and thinly slice them with a knife. A mandoline slicer can also work.
- Add salt to the plantains.
- Heat oil on medium heat.
- When the oil is hot enough, add plantain slices and fry until golden brown.
- Remove from oil and leave to drain on paper towel.
- Remove and drain on paper towels.
- Serve with sour, mango chutney or achar.
Side Notes:
- There is another type of fried plantain made in Guyana. This one is sliced long and fat and is basically the size of a french fry. When persons refuse french fries, they tend to substitute it with this type of plantain. The plantain can be eaten with bar-be-que chicken or any other meat and salad for a light lunch or dinner. They are also eaten at breakfast with fried eggs and bacon. Green or yellow-green plantains are used for this.
- Now you can also fry ripe plantains (yellow plantains) but this one is sliced flat, long and thick. It is basically the size of the long and thin plantain chips but this one is long and fat. This type of fried plantain can be eaten for breakfast or dinner with fried or boiled eggs and a cup of tea or as a side dish on cook up rice for lunch. These plantains are prepared and cooked the same way as the thin chips; the only difference is the way they are sliced and the type of plantain used. Therefore, depending on the type of plantain and how they are sliced will determine how you’ll eat it.
Plantain Chip Business In Guyana
The Plantain Chip business has been around for a while in Guyana and many persons are able to get an income by selling these tasty snacks. D&G Delicious Chips was created by Gordon and Debra Moore as a means of providing for their family. The business which was started in 2000 employed four (4) persons at the time but has increased over the years. They have been selling their product line which has expanded to cassava chips, fried chana, nuts and chicken foot, at a stall at the Bourda Market, Regent Street. They plan to establish a permanent outlet and improve their brand and packaging This is just one of the many businesses that sell plantain chips in Guyana. You can also find many plantain chip vendors across Guyana, playing their trade and bus stops and bus parks countrywide.
Watch This:
Plantain Chips In Guyana
There are also bigger businesses that make and sell packaged plantain chips in Guyana. For example, MMH Enterprise owned by Navin Hansraj sells Maya Hot and Spicy, Regular or Ripe Plantain Chips in Guyana and Trinidad. Also, Sueria Manufacturing Inc, a local company, is involved in the processing of plantain chips. They are called “Kaieteur Plantain Chips,” which comes in 46 grams packages and are available in two flavours: Lightly Salted and Naturally Ripe Plantain. So, whether you would like to buy plantain chips or make them that is totally up to you. One thing is sure though, the people of Guyana and everyone else loves to indulge in delicious plantain chips.
Article References:
- https://www.inewsguyana.com/young-remigrant-popularising-guyana-brand-of-plantain-chips/
- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2017/07/01/locally-produced-packaged-plantain-chips-hit-the-market/
- https://dpi.gov.gy/small-business-enterprise-plantain-chip-venture-sustaining-one-familys-livelihood/
- https://www.thespruceeats.com/chifles-fried-plantain-chips-3028864
Last Updated: 2020-07-08
