Bolas de Mani (Peanut and Plantain Balls)

These green plantains are mashed and mixed with peanut butter, salt and then baked. Delicious! This is a South American dish that I usually serve with eggs for breakfast.

Step: 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.

Step: 2

Place plantain chunks and salt into a saucepan, and add water to cover plantains. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium, and simmer until a fork will easily pierce the plantains, about 20 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water, then drain the plantains. Allow to steam for a few minutes.

Step: 3

Mash the plantain with the peanut butter and reserved water until fine. Allow to cool until you can handle it, then roll into 24 golf ball-sized pieces. Place onto prepared baking sheet.

Step: 4

Bake in preheated oven until the balls firm up, and turn golden brown, about 45 minutes.

Per Serving: 398 calories; protein 12.3g; carbohydrates 46.5g; fat 22.1g; sodium 589.7mg.

The most obvious way to choose a side dish is to look at your main dish (pasta, chicken, seared tofu) and pick something different. When you’re making pasta, go for a simple vegetable . Making steak? Go for something light. If you’re making stir-fry with rice, it must not a good idea to also make a rice salad.

This also can make to cooking method . You don’t want to push more often your oven by making to do list three dishes at once in there, or be juggling four pans on the cooking items . But sometimes you can made a dish do double-duty .