Buying Guide · Yado Market Blog
Plantain chips are the crunchy snack of West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Some are sweet, some are salty, some bring the heat. Here's how to tell them apart, which plantain chips we stock in Chicago, how they're made, and how to fry your own at home.
Quick answer: which plantain chips to buy
- Sweet: chips made from ripe (yellow) plantain. Try Asiko Exotic Crisps Ripe Plantain.
- Sweet & spicy: ripe plantain with chili. Try Mr. Asiko or Mr. John's Spicy.
- Salted: chips made from green plantain. Try Lam's long-cut strips.
- For a crowd: the Three Sisters 1 lb bag.
9
Kinds in stock
$1.49
Snack bags from
3
Main flavors
15 min
To fry your own
Know your chips
Sweet vs Salted vs Spicy Plantain Chips
The flavor of a plantain chip starts with the plantain itself. A plantain changes as it ripens: green plantains are firm and starchy, and as the skin turns yellow and then black, the starch turns into sugar.1 So the color of the plantain decides the chip:
Salted (green plantain)
Made from unripe green plantain. Pale gold, very crunchy, savory, with a light potato-chip taste. Usually just salt. In Latin America these are called chifles or mariquitas.
Sweet (ripe plantain)
Made from ripe yellow plantain. Deeper orange-gold color, naturally sweet and a little caramelized, with a lighter crunch. Often lightly salted to balance the sweetness.
Spicy
Usually ripe plantain dusted with chili or pepper. Sweet first, then heat. The most popular style in Nigerian and Ghanaian shops.
Strips vs rounds
Long strips are cut lengthwise; round chips are cut across. Same taste, but strips are better for dipping.
Not sure which you'll like? Buy one bag of each style: most snack bags cost under $3.
Buying guide
Plantain Chips Brands We Sell
All of these are in stock at our Chicago store and online. Prices are per bag.
Sweet and sweet & spicy (ripe plantain)
Our pick
Mr. Asiko Ripe Plantain Chips
Ripe plantain, sweet with a chili kick. The classic Nigerian-shop chip.
Shop · $2.49
Sweet
Asiko Exotic Crisps Ripe Plantain 75 g
Thin ripe plantain crisps. Sweet and light.
Shop · $1.49
Big spicy bag
Mr. John's Spicy Ripe Plantain Chips 400 g
A big 400 g bag of spicy ripe chips for sharing.
Shop · $9.99Salted and crunchy
Strips
Lam's Plantain Chips 2.5 oz
Long-cut plantain strips from Costa Rica. Great with dips.
Shop · $3.49
Extra crunchy
Ocho Rios Plantain Chips
Jamaican-style chips with a hard, extra crunchy bite.
Shop · $1.99
More plantain chips
Family size
Three Sisters Plantain Chip 1 lb
A full pound of chips for parties and lunchboxes.
Shop · $8.99
Asiko plantain chips: sweet, slightly salted yellow plantain.
Flavor names follow each pack. Always check the bag for the exact flavor and ingredients.
Behind the crunch
How Plantain Chips Are Made
Packaged plantain chips and homemade ones follow the same basic steps:
1. Choose
Green plantains for salted chips, ripe yellow plantains for sweet chips.
2. Peel
Plantain skin is thick and doesn't peel like a banana. Cut off the ends and slit the skin lengthwise.
3. Slice
Slice very thin, across for rounds or lengthwise for strips.
4. Fry
Fry in hot vegetable or palm oil until crisp and golden, then drain.
5. Season
Salt while hot. Spicy chips get chili or pepper powder.
Recipe
How to Make Plantain Chips at Home
Makes: about 2 snack bowls · Time: 15 to 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains (or firm, just-yellow plantains for sweet chips)
- Vegetable oil for frying, about 2 inches deep in the pot
- Salt to taste
- Optional: chili powder, cayenne or garlic powder for spicy chips
Steps
- Peel: cut off both ends, slit the skin lengthwise in 2 or 3 places and pry it off with your thumb.
- Slice thin: about 1/16 inch. A mandoline or the slicing side of a box grater makes it fast. Thin slices = crunchy chips.
- Heat the oil to about 350°F (175°C). A slice dropped in should sizzle right away.
- Fry in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until golden and the bubbling slows down.
- Drain and season: lift onto paper towels and salt at once. Add chili now for spicy chips.
- Cool completely before storing. They get crunchier as they cool.
Air fryer plantain chips
Toss thin slices with 1 tablespoon of oil and a pinch of salt. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10 to 14 minutes in a single layer, shaking the basket every few minutes. They come out a little less crunchy than fried chips.
Tips
Sweet chips burning?
Ripe plantain has more sugar, so it browns fast. Lower the oil to about 325°F.
Chips soft?
Slices too thick or oil not hot enough. Slice thinner and fry in smaller batches.
Hands sticky?
Green plantain sap stains. Oil your hands or wear gloves when peeling.
Storage
Keep in an airtight container for up to a week.
Serve them
What to Eat With Plantain Chips
Eat them straight from the bag, or try them the way people do at home:
With a cold drink
Plantain chips and a malt drink is a classic West African combo.
With dips
Strips are great with guacamole, salsa or a spicy pepper sauce.
With roasted peanuts
A Nigerian and Ghanaian street-food favorite.
Next to a sandwich
Swap your usual potato chips for something with more crunch.
Love fried plantain? Try our kelewele recipe (spicy fried ripe plantain) or red red, Ghana's bean stew served with fried plantain.
Good to know
Are Plantain Chips Healthy?
Plantain chips are a fried snack, a lot like potato chips. Plantains themselves are a starchy fruit with fiber and potassium,2 but frying adds oil, and most bags add salt or sugar. So enjoy them as a treat, look at the Nutrition Facts panel on the bag for calories, fat and sodium, and keep to one serving. Air-fried or baked homemade chips use much less oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are plantain chips made of?
Thin slices of plantain fried in vegetable oil and seasoned with salt. Sweet chips use ripe plantain; spicy chips add chili or pepper. Check each bag's ingredient list.
Are plantain chips sweet or salty?
Both exist. Chips from green plantain are salty and savory. Chips from ripe plantain are naturally sweet. Many African brands sell sweet, salted and sweet & spicy versions.
What is the difference between plantain chips and banana chips?
Plantains are a firmer, starchier cooking banana, so plantain chips are crunchier and less sweet. Banana chips are made from sweet dessert bananas and are often sugar-coated.
What are chifles?
Chifles is the name for thin green plantain chips in Ecuador and Peru. They are salted, crunchy and very close to West African salted plantain chips.
Can I make plantain chips in the air fryer?
Yes. Toss thin slices with a little oil and salt and air fry at 375°F for 10 to 14 minutes, shaking often.
Where can I buy plantain chips near me in Chicago?
At Yado Market, 1651 E 87th St, Chicago. Pick up in store, get local delivery, or order online with shipping anywhere in the U.S.
Sources
Ready for Some Crunch?
Sweet, salted or spicy: pick up a few bags in Chicago today or get them shipped. Most snack bags under $3.