Tostones

1. Peel green plantains by slicing just through the peel (not the fruit) lengthwise, from tip to tip, then prying off the peel with your thumbs. Sometimes it’s easier to peel if you make more than one slice down the length of the plantain.

2. Slice the peeled plantain at an angle into 1 inch thick slices.

3. Meanwhile, preheat a large stainless steel skillet on the stovetop over medium heat (skip this step if using a gas stove).

4. Add most of the oil to the hot skillet (reserving some).

5. Arrange the plantain slices in the skillet in one layer (if your skillet is too small to fit all of them at once, cook in batches).

6. Fry the plantain for two to three minutes on each side until they are golden in color. Flip a few times as opposed to once to make sure they don’t get too brown.

7. If they’re browning too quickly, reduce the heat.

8. Maintain at least an eighth of an inch of fat in the bottom of the pan to prevent the plantain from sticking; add more fat as needed.

9. Remove the plantain slices from the skillet with tongs or a slotted spoon.

10. Traditionally, they are pounded flat with a hinged utensil made for the task, called a tostonera, but any kitchen utensil (bowl, cup, plate, etc.) that has a large enough flat surface will do the trick. I flatten mine on a cutting board with my 4 cup measuring cup then peel the mashed plantain off the bottom of the measuring cup with a spatula directly into the hot skillet again.

11. Fry the plantain slices a second time, this time about one minute per side until crisp and golden brown, adding additional duck fat as needed to maintain about an eighth of an inch of fat in the bottom of the pan. You’ll almost certainly have to do this in two or even three batches, unless you own the world’s biggest skillet.

12. Remove tostones from the skillet and place on a serving plate or cutting board lined with paper towel to drain any excess fat.

13. Sprinkle liberally with salt while still warm. Serve immediately. Tostones are best enjoyed right when you make them.