1. Plantains (Musa paradisiacal)
Type of banana
Grown in tropical climate
possible origin Malaysia or India (East Asia)
No a tree, but a perennial herb; grows to 30 feet
Curved; fruit tip grows upward against gravity
Picked when green
when ripe: sweet
when eaten green: starchy

2. Plantains Used as a vegetable in Latin America and Africa
Called the “potatoes of the air”
Have many medicinal benefits
Treatment of GI disorders
Color comes from carotenoids
excellent source of betacarotene (an antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A)

3. How to cut green plantains
Start by cutting off the tips

4. How to cut green plantains
Run your knife along the length of the plantain
Only cut the skin and not the flesh of the plantain

5. How to cut green plantains
Gently peel the skin away from the flesh
Skin will peel off in strips
Can be tough in certain areas
Be careful not to damage the flesh of the plantain

6. How to cut green plantains
Success!
Your plantain should look something like this
Now follow the rest of the recipe…