These Ripe Plantains with Syrup are known as Plátanos Calados or Plátanos en Tentación. This dish can be serve as a dessert, side dish or snack.
What are Plátanos Calados?
They are also known as Plátanos en Tentación in some Colombian regions. This dish is very popular in Latin America and it has different names depending on the country and every country has its own way to make this dish. Some of the names of this dish in Latin America are Plátano Pícaro, Dulce de Plátano and Plátano en Almibar.
This is my grandmother's Colombian Plátanos Calados recipe. This dish is basically ripe plantains cooked in a sweet, flavorful and thick syrup. Some cooks add vanilla extract, cloves, cinnamon and salt to the dish. They are many variations in every country and every family has its own recipe.
This ripe plantain recipe is simple, quick and easy to make. You don't need a lot of ingredients and it's delicious. In Colombia Plátanos Calados or Plátanos en Tentación are eaten as a side dish, snack or dessert with fresh white cheese on the side. This dish can be eaten cold or hot.
Plátanos Calados Ingredients
Plantains: This recipe will only be as good as your plantains. So I highly recommend purchasing very ripe plantains or allowing them to fully ripen at home before using them to make this recipe. To more quickly ripen plantains at home, place them in a paper bag and leave at room temperature until ripe.
Sugar: Traditionally this recipe uses panela (unrefined cane sugar ), but if you don't find it use light brown sugar.
Cinnamon: I recommend using cinnamon sticks for this recipe, they add a delicious flavor to the syrup. If you don't have sticks, ground cinnamon will work.
Butter: I like use a good quality butter for this recipe.
Cloves: Some people add cloves to the syrup, but I don't like them. If you like cloves add 6 whole cloves to the syrup.
The complete ingredients list and directions are in the recipe card below.
Plátanos Calados (Plantains with Brown Sugar Syrup)
Ingredients
- 2 large very ripe plantains peeled and cut into 4 chunks each one
- ½ cup light brown sugar or grated panela
- 1 cup of water
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ tablespoon butter
Instructions
- In a small pot place all the ingredients, cover and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving plate and serve with white cheese.
Nutrition
Looking for more delicious ripe plantain recipes to try? Here are a few of my favorites
Ripe Plantain Cake with Guava Paste and Cheese
rebecca subbiah
yum another plantain recipe
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
I love this dessert with plantains! We always have plantains in savory recipes so I need to give the dessert a try!
Sophie
MMMM..Erica!
What a lovely dessert!!
mjam mjam,...
Erica
Natasha,
Try it you are going to love it! It is delicious with fresh farmers cheese or fresh mozzarella on the side.
OysterCulture
This dessert sounds like perfection. We love plantains so i can hardly wait to try
Pocky
Another tasty looking dish!! I finally found gauva paste so I will finally get to try out your recipe for Buñuelos de Plátano Maduro.
nora@ffr
wow!! Erica this is so simple and classy.. a must try.. use of cinnamon sound delicious.. lovely photo though..
cheers!!
Erica
Thank you all so much for the wonderful comments!
epicurean's market
Wow! I am definitely doing to try this. Awesome stuff! 🙂
Kimberly
Hi, I have a question. I am in Bogota, but I can only find azucar morena, not light brown sugar as I would be able to find in the US. Can I use azucar morena for this recipe? Thank you in advance.
Erica
Kimberly- Yes you can or just use panela! my grandmother used the make them with panela and they were delicious!
Kimberly
Thanks for the prompt reply! Same amount for panela 1/2 cup?
Erica
Kimberly- yes!
Luz Gudgel
Yo busca receta para hacer Torta de platanos gracia.
rolando
no water?
Erica Dinho
Rolando,
1 cup of water.
Monica
Erica,
I love fresh white farm cheese! I've had it in Colombia, but can't find it here. Mozzarella is much saltier, and isn't as good. Is there a cheese by another name I should look for here? I'm in The Seattle area....
Erica Dinho
Queso Fresco!
grace
i'm pretty sure i could slurp up an entire bowl of that syrup alone! okay, maybe not a whole bowl, but it sounds delicious!
Josie
I would like the recipe for buenolos de plátanos
Jen
This brings back memories from when I was a kid! So delicious!
I didn't have any ripe plantains today but I did have ripe bananas so I used those instead and served it over vanilla ice cream. This was a hit with my husband and kids!
Laura
Can I make this in a crockpot?