bananas and plantains and mofongos!

When Lorna told us that her favorite food was mofongos, I was initially unphased because I didn't know what the word meant. After she explained how the dish was made, I was actually stunned! Fried bananas mashed with chicken and seasonings did not sound appetizing to me. I decided to research the food item to try and gain a little more insight on why this was so popular in Puerto Rico. I first learned that mofongos are made with plantains, not bananas, which are actually different. In North America and Europe, the word "banana" is typically used to describe plantains but this is not accurate. The traditional plantains, popular in South and Central America, are like unripe, smaller, and less sweet bananas. This seemed much more complementary to chicken and seasonings. The mofongos are very popular in Puerto Rico and also the Dominican Republic. While researching this food item I also learned that in South and Central America plantains are also commonly used in other snacks like plantain chips. I read that these fried plantains taste starchy and are typically salted like potato chips. It was then that I realized I've actually had these plantain chips! I ate them at restaurant in Houston and I was mistakenly told that they were banana chips (proof that plantains are commonly mistaken for bananas). They were served with salsa and were very delicious! Now, that I've learned all about plantains and I've even tried some; I'm very anxious to try Lorna's favorite-- mofongos!