Traditional Guatemalan Christmas Food: Fried Plantains

Okay Carmen, this is not rellenitos, but it sure gets pretty close. I promise I post your rellenitos dessert pretty soon.

Bananas, including plantains, are native to Africa. Yet it is the Central American republics, but specifically Guatemala the tiny third-world country that is known as the Banana Republic. And no, we are most definitely not talking about the middle-class clothing store; although Guatemala is now a Maquila Republic too. We are talking about the Banana Republic created by UFCO and that Kyle called on to boycott. Yes we are talking about the United Fruit Company, now known as Chiquita Brands International, Inc. that created such a havoc and devastation in Guatemala that we are still recovering from its CIA operation PBSUCCESS.

But like in anything else in life, something good emerged from such a tragic history. Fried plantains, rellenitos (fried plantain dough filled with black beans), atol de platano (plantain-based hot and thick drink) and even the wrappings of traditional Guatemalan tamal came from the banana trees. Man, I could on and on talking about bananas recipes and dishes in Guatemala like Bubba did in the Forest Gump film about shrimp.

Bubba: Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.

Enough said!

© 2007 – 2020, Rudy Giron. All rights reserved.