Today I am going to teach you how to combine two traditional Caribbean ingredients into an incredible snack! The result: irresistibly crunchy plantain balls stuffed with a light flaky fish filling. These oh-so delicious stuffed ripe plantains with fish were inspired by my dear aunt, who made them often during my childhood days. I am unsure of how she made them, but I have created my own recipe and wanted to share it with you.

What I love about this recipe is that the ingredients are inexpensive. Fried plantains are a welcome side to any meal, and if you are a fish lover then you will certainly enjoy this recipe. Growing up my mom cooked fish a lot; for the most part I pretty much ate all the types of fish. My little one and my husband love fish, so, when I make these, everyone gets to eat them. This appetizer certainly transports me back to Guyana with its big bold Caribbean flavors! And I am super excited to take you on this flavorful journey with me!

We begin with the plantain, a simple dish in both Caribbean and African households; peeled and fried until crisp with natural sweetness. The natural sugars of the plantain are caramelized when fried to form the most enticing flavor. As the plantain ripens, these sugars increase further so the riper the plantain, the sweeter it is. Plantain must be cooked before using to break down the starch which then helps the balls to bind together.

Whip up these Caribbean stuffed plantain balls with fish in no time for the perfect appetizer or snack. It can be served with various dipping sauces, but my personal favorite is a combination of Thousand Island dressing + mayo + hot sauce + a pinch of honey. Mix it all together and thank me later! The real surprise for your guests will be their first bite; spicy, sweet, crispy, and tender. You can expect them to be reaching for another before finishing the first.

Helpful Tips

1. The plantain mixture will be a bit sticky, therefore, when forming the ball place a bit of flour onto the palm of your hands.

2. You want to get the fullness of the fish in the balls so don’t hesitate to add a good amount.

3. When flattening the plantains make sure it’s not too thick. The whole idea is to have more fish than plantains.

4. Be sure to coat the balls very well in bread crumbs. This ensures that the ball is nice and crunchy on the outside