Learn how to make this simple plantain flour recipe that's completely gluten free, paleo friendly and grain free for all your culinary needs.
One of the many joys of being a food blogger is exploring so many different recipes. Including how to make plantain flour from scratch.
In case you didn't know it's free from any additives, preservative and suitable for most dietary types. Who wouldn't want to introduce such a diverse grain free flour to there current lifestyle?
What is a green plantain?
Plantain is a member of the banana family, but it is not the same at all.
While bananas tend to be small in size, green plantains are relatively large, savoury, bright green with a thick skin, starch enriched and less sweet. As it ripens the colour transitions from green to yellow to an almost black hue when it's overripe.
In Caribbean, Africa and Latin America, green plantain is a staple food, similar to how potatoes are highly regarded in the west.
Green plantain isn't typically eaten raw, rather it is cooked i.e boiled, roasted, baked, fried or mashed to make mangu.
How to make green plantain flour
With so many people leading a more grain/gluten free lifestyle because they are intolerant to gluten (wheat protein). While others such as the paleo crew are in search of new flours that omit the use of conventional flour.
Green plantain flour is a great wheat free alternative and very simple to make using a dehydrator and spice grinder or if you have dry container for a ninja/vitamix then you can mill the pieces of plantain in that.
The plantains - in order to make plantain flour, you're going to need a few plantains. My recipe was made with 4 plantains in total which yields the amount of a standard mason jar.
Peel and slice - cut the ends off each plantain first and foremost. Then remove the exterior, you may need to score the skin with a knife in order to take it off with ease. Once the peel is removed then slice the plantains about 1'' thick per disc
The dehydrator - place the plantain pieces evenly on the dehydrator trays and spread them out. Set your machine to 70c (158F) and the timer for 12 hours.
Grounding the plantain into flour - after 12 hours the plantain should be bone dry, that's when you know it's ready to be milled. Ground the pieces using a spice grinder/food processor or dry container.
Baking or cooking with plantain flour
Green plantain flour can be used as a direct substitute for conventional flour. Although it has a subtle hint of bitterness to it so it might be wise to blend it with another flour.
This flour is quite costly in supermarkets so making it yourself is great if you want to save your some money.
Where to purchase green plantain
Many African/Caribbean or Latino supermarket should have them. Do make sure you are buying plantain which is quite large and not green banana. If in doubt, always ask first!!
Plantain flour uses
- Cookies
- Pie crust
- Pasta
- Bread
- Pancakes
- Waffles
- For more plantain recipes click here
Plantain flour health benefits
- Low in fat and protein
- Pure carbohydrate meaning it is macro nutrient dense
- High in potassium
- Great source of fibre
- GI of 38
- High in resistant starch
How to make plantain flour (step by step pictures)
Cut the ends of each plantain, remove the peel and slice the plantains into small sized discs.
Place the sliced plantain on the dehydrator tray and spread them out evenly. Then set the timer on the dehydrator for 12 hours and temperate to 70c (158f)
After 12 hours the plantains should be bone dry (as pictured) then ground (using a food processor/grinder) into a fine consistency
Notes and tips
- Be sure to store the flour away from sunlight (in a cool place).
- Make sure to label the flour (it should last for several months).
- You can use a mandolin slicer or paring knife to slice the plantain, you want them to be more on the thin side.
- The flour should be smooth, almost like powder.
- Use a spice grinder (for best results to mill the flour
More recipes to try
Plantain flour
Ingredients
- 4 green plantains
Instructions
- Cut the ends of each plantain
- Use a knife to horizontally score the plantains then remove the peel.
- Slice the plantain into 1'' discs, they don't have to be extremely thin in size
- Lay the plantain pieces on the dehydrator trays
- Set the temperature to 70c (158f) and timer for 12 hours
- Once the plantains have dried out place them in a spice grinder, if using a small grinder you might have to do it in batches or use a dry container (ninja or vitamix) or food processor and ground into a fine consistency.
Notes
- Be sure to store the flour away from sunlight (in a cool place).
- Make sure to label the flour (it should last for several months).
- You can use a mandolin slicer or paring knife to slice the plantain, you want them to be more on the thin side.
- The flour should be smooth, almost like powder.
- Use a spice grinder (for best results to mill the flour
Evelyn
Hi there, what is the ratio for this flour? Does 1 cup of regular flour = 1 cup of plantain flour? Thank you.
Charla
Hi Evelyn, yes it's a 1:1 ratio =, however I personally find it slightly more dense than regular flour so I would recommend mixing it with another light flour to reduce the thick density.
Fiona
Hi, do you have a recipe for plantain pasta? I'd love to try making some
Charla
Hi Fiona. Unfortunately I don't. That's something I am very open to trying.
Maureen
Great Girl
Charla
Thank you Maureen