What's a Tostone?

If you read my Cuban roast pork recipe and wondered what a tostone is, I'm going to tell you. This is going to be quick because I'm supposed to be shopping for Hudson jeans to finish up my Christmas list. :)

Tostones are fried green plantains. Plantains are in the banana family but starchy. When fried green they are sort of like a potato and called tostones. When they are fried after ripening they are sweet and called sweet plantains or plantanos maduros.

To make tostones peel and slice them on the diagonal about 1/2 inch thick. Fry them on medium heat until lightly browned. Remove from the oil and smash them flat. Return them to the oil to crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt.