Baked Tostones

Shhh, don't tell my daughter these aren't fried! If I can fool her, then these passed the test. She loves tostones, and got so happy when she saw me making them, I kinda felt bad because I said, she'll know something is different, she always does! But she ate them without a peep and even said how good they were.

Fried tostones, aka patacones depending on what country you are from are fried green plantains, the latin equivalent to french fries in America. Usually a treat I occasionally allow myself because they are not exactly low in fat. But now I will be eating these a lot more. They are just as good as the fried ones without all the points. The trick is to bake them until they are brown. Serve them as an appetizer with mojo or guacamole for dipping or eat them as a side dish with rice and beans.

Baked Tostones
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 4 • Size: 1/4th • Cook Time: 30 minutes • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 4

• 3 medium (3 cups) green plantains
• 2 tsp canola oil
• salt
• Pam spray

Preheat the oven to 400°. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

Peel plantains and slice into 1/2 thick slices. Place in a bowl and toss with oil and salt. Arrange slices on the baking sheet. Lightly coat with a little more oil spray on top and bake for 10 minutes or until slightly brown on the bottom. Remove from oven.

Using a tostonera (a press), slightly mash each piece to about a quarter of an inch thick. If a tostonera is not available, insert the pieces between a folded piece of brown-paper and press down using a saucer or the bottom of a glass jar.

Lightly re-spray the baking sheet and place the plantains brown side up onto the baking sheet. Lightly spray the top and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown and crispy.


Mojo Garlic Dipping Sauce

A pungent dipping sauce with garlic, cumin, oregano and sour orange juice or a combination of orange and lime juices. A little goes a long way.
Servings: 4 • Calories: 30.1 • Old Points: .5 pt • Points+: 1 pt

• 1/3 cup sour orange juice (or 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice + 1 tbsp lime juice)
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• pinch oregano
• pinch salt and pepper
• 1/2 tsp cumin

Heat a small sauce pan on low flame, when hot add oil. Saute garlic on low for about 2 minutes, do not brown. Add sour orange, oregano, cumin, salt and pepper and let it come to a boil. Shut off and set aside to cool to room temperature.