Healthy Baked Patacones with Mojo Sauce

Healthy Baked Patacones with Mojo Sauce, a healthy take on the classic fried Colombian patacones (or sometimes called tostones). Smashed plantains baked and served with spicy mojo herb sauce. Delicioso!

If I walked away from our recent trip to Colombia with one thing, it was this: I was in love with Colombian food and couldn’t wait to get home and share it with all of you.

Traveling always inspires me to get in the kitchen and start experimenting. I snap photos of dishes I love, write notes on my phone about flavor combinations I’ve never heard of, and try to figure out how I can incorporate foods from around the world in my everyday cooking style (i.e. easy, fast, not too many ingredients, and enough for leftovers the next day).

And after one day of eating in Colombia I knew that a healthy version of patacones, or smashed and fried plantains, was making an appearance on the blog.

three plantains on a grey blue table for healthy baked patacones

a clear glass bowl of sliced plantains with a wooden spoon for healthy baked patacones

healthy baked patacones, or smashed plantains, on a black cookie sheet

What are patacones (or tostones)? Where do they originate?

Patacones, sometimes referred to as tostones, are smashed and fried plantains served with dipping sauce or as a side dish with soups. Patacones are found throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean in countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Cuba, among others. In Colombia they are usually served with aji (hot salsa) or a cream sauce, but I’m a sucker for spicy green herb sauces (see exhibit A: carrot top chimichurri, exhibit B: lemon and dill sauce, and exhibit C: cilantro chimichurri) so I paired them with a Cuban garlic and herb mojo sauce. Delicious Colombian and Cuban fusion!

How to make healthy patacones

Traditional patacones and tostones recipes are fried–sometimes twice–so a would-be healthy recipes of just smashed plantains and an herb sauce is negated by being deep fried in oil. However, as a dietitian I am always looking for ways to make traditional recipes healthier and found that baking patacones and finishing them off by browning the in a pan with a bit of oil gives them that crispy chip-like texture without the hassle (and extra oil!) of deep frying.

Can I use bananas instead of plantains for patacones?

Yes! If your local grocery store doesn’t sell plantains then regular bananas will do, however I would suggest making sure they are not very ripe. A ripe banana will be too soft and may not hold its shape when mashed. Bananas are typically much sweeter and softer than plantains, so the finished patacones may not be as crispy and will taste a bit sweeter. But a sweet patacon with spicy mojo would be a delicious combination!

The fun part: How to smash patacones

Patacones are essentially just sliced and smashed plantains, but there is a little trick to making them uniform. Choosing a bowl or large glass with a completely flat bottom (no ridges!) will ensure each patacon is uniformly smashed before baking. I chose a clear glass bowl with a smooth bottom (see photo above) so I could see the smashed plantains, but any smooth-bottomed bowl or glass will do.

And I have to admit, it was oddly satisfying to smash plantains.

What is mojo sauce? How do you make it?

Mojo sauce is a blanket term used for sauces that include olive oil, herbs like cilantro/coriander, garlic, cumin, paprika, salt, pepper, and other spices. While green herb mojo sauce is more popular, some cultures use red versions made with red peppers and paprika. Most people associate mojo sauce with Cuba but many Caribbean cultures have their own take on the sauce, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Canary Islands.

Mojo sauce, and all green herb sauces, is very simple to make: chop herbs and garlic and add all spices to a food processor with oil and pulse until well blended. That’s it! A super simple way to kick any recipe up a notch.

Healthy baked patacones: Tips, tricks & tools

This patacones recipe is SUPER easy to make and doesn’t require much in terms of kitchen tools, however there are a few standard kitchen essentials I used that may help you make them perfect.

Cookie sheets: I just replaced my very old (and very brown) cookie sheets for a new set and I was happy with the three different sizes in this set.
Lodge cast iron skillet: I live and die by my cast iron skillet and its rough iron surface gives these patacones the perfect brown crispiness you’re looking for without the mess of a fryer.
Little sauce ramekins: I try to keep a minimalist kitchen without the bells and whistles of having a dish for every type of food (gravy boats? no, not for me) but having little sauce ramekins on hand for sauces and dips is a must
Spices: one of my favorite spice brands is Frontier and I love their cumin, oregano, paprika, and red pepper, and their smoked sea salt is a spice cabinet staple