For many Caribbean and Latin American households, plantains are a sort of dietary superhero. The starchy fruit is eaten in many different forms: ripe, fried to make sweet platanos maduros, or flattened and then fried to make crispy tostones. Any plantain enthusiast will tell you that they're all pretty damn delicious.
Aside from tasting amazing, of course, plantains are also a great source of many (perhaps unexpected) nutrients and vitamins. While it's still wise to enjoy their fried iteration in moderation, in general, the fruit just might exceed the benefits of its counterpart, the banana. Read on to find out why.