Aranitas are one delicious way to eat plantains. They are the perfect crunchy finger food for any occasion to make in 10 minutes or less!
Have you ever heard of Aranitas? Arañitas are a Puerto Rican invention made with green plantains that are peeled and grated. They’re then formed into disks and fried.
Similar to Puerto Rican green fried plantains but with super delicious crunchy edges. Most of the time serve with a good serving of Puerto Rican mayo ketchup.
Aranitas are a popular Puerto Rican street food usually served next to meat dishes like Puerto Rican carne frita or seafood like a king crab salad.
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Why This Recipe Works
- It is a simple recipe that requires only 3 ingredients!
- It is the perfect finger food recipe to serve as party food.
Ingredientes
- Plantain- I used 2 green plantains. Make sure your plantains are firm to the touch and as green as possible.
- Oil – I used vegetable oil but you can use the oil you regularly use for frying.
- Salt- While it is optional a touch of salt is good to add flavor.
How to make Arañitas
- Photo 1: First, you must cut the ends of your plantains, cut in the middle longside, and peel the plantain. Then cut your plantains in half. This is so the plantains are easier to handle when grating.
- Photo 2: Grate your plantains on the coarse side of your grater. When reaching the end of the plantain you have to be careful not to cut your hand.
- Photo 3: Now we shape our arañitas. Divide the shredded plantain it into 8 portions. After dividing, I make a small ball with the grated plantain and this is so the shape can be fairly even or at least similar. Then I flatten them with my spatula.
- Photo 4: Make sure your oil is hot because if not your arañitas will start falling apart. Fry for 2 minutes on each side or until they have an even golden color.
Recipe Tips
- You can shredd your aranitas easier by using a food processor with a shredding atachment.
- Make different size aranitas, make mini ones to share or big ones to serve as mini plate for food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arañita’s translations in English is “little spiders”. Spiders because of the plantains pieces sticking out resemble spider legs. Little because we Puerto Ricans tend to say words in their smaller form.
You can cook your aranitas in an air fryer and they will still be delicious, not the same but still good. The only thing is that they can take about 10 more minutes to cook vs frying. But is a great option.
More Finger Food To Try
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Arañitas
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains
- 1 cup oil
Instructions
- First, cut the ends of your plantains. Make a line going down your plantain and peel. Cut your plantain in half for better handling.
- With the aid of a grater, shred your plantain. Do this on the coarse side of the grater.
- Now divide your plantain into 8 equal balls. Once divided flatten your balls with a spatula or a plate. Make sure you press down hard so the plantain can stick better together.
- The last step is to fry. Over high heat place a large pan and add your oil. Once your oil is hot add your arañitas and fry for 2 minutes on each side or until they get a golden brown color. Serve and if you like you can sprinkle some salt and enjoy.
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Recipe Notes
- Make sure your plantains are green for this recipe because if they are slightly yellow the flavor will change. Also, the texture can change.
- To avoid breaking your arañitas when putting them in the oil, use a spatula. Lift the arañita with the spatula and submerge the spatula in the oil and slowly place it in your hot oil.
- You can season your arañitas with some salt and garlic powder right after you take them out of the oil.
Stephenie says
Muchisimas Gracias Marisol por probar la receta!
Marisol Pontón says
Estoy muy satisfecha, con la receta, sus explicaciones y el video. Gracias 👌 fue excelente, todo lo aprendido. Marisol