If you see a plantain in your kitchen, what’s on the menu? Plantain fufu, pasteles, rellenitos de plátano, tostones, mole de plátano, mofongo are just a few of the dishes that come to mind.

While mashing cubes of perfectly fried plantains is an essential step in preparations, too much zealousness can result in a dish that resembles some kind of vegetable puree or baby food -- not the ...