Patacones con Hogao (Air-Fryer Plantains with Tomato-Onion Sauce)
This twice-fried plantain recipe uses an air fryer, giving you all the crispy, savory goodness of traditional Colombian patacones (patacón pisao) without deep frying. Of course, you can always make these the classic way—I love a good patacones fritos recipe too!
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I love how simple this recipe is, and I’m seriously obsessed with hogao. It’s that perfect mix of sweet and savory, and it pairs so well with crispy, salty patacones
Table of Contents
What Is Hogao?
Hogao is a sweet, green onion and tomato sauce that’s slow-cooked and caramelized. It makes the perfect dipping sauce and works so well with so many dishes. We add hogao to eggs for the best huevos pericos or serve it with arepa con queso.
Top Tips for Making Crispy Patacones in the Air Fryer
Brush with Avocado Oil Twice:
Coat the plantain chunks with avocado oil before air frying them the first time. After flattening, brush them again with oil to help them crisp up in the second round.
Keep the Temperature at 330°F:
Air frying at 330°F lets the inside cook properly while getting the outside crispy. A higher temperature might burn the outside before the plantain is fully cooked, while a lower temperature won’t crisp them enough.
Flatten After the First Air Frying Round:
After air frying for 12 minutes, flatten the plantains using a tostonera or any flat surface like a plate or bowl. This helps achieve the classic patacón shape and texture.
Cook in Two Rounds:
The first air frying round softens the plantains, making them easy to flatten. The second round, with a light coating of oil, gives them their crispy finish.
Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer:
Lay the plantain chunks in a single layer so they cook evenly. Stacking or overlapping will prevent them from getting crispy.
Stick to these simple tips for crispy patacones without the need to deep fry!
What Ingredients You'll NeedFor the Patacones:
- Green Plantains (Plátano Verde) – Go for green plantains, not yellow ones. They’re firmer and perfect for making patacones.
- Avocado Oil (Aceite de Aguacate) – Great for air frying or frying because it handles high heat well. You can find it in most grocery stores.
- Sea Salt – A pinch of sea salt or pink salt works great to season the patacones.
For the Hogao (Tomato-Onion Sauce):
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness to the hogao.
- Tomatoes – Look for vine-ripened tomatoes; they’re slightly sweet and full of flavor.
- Scallions (Green Onions) – Scallions are my go-to for this recipe.
- Sea Salt – Just a little to bring everything together.
How to Make Crispy Patacones in the Air Fryer
Step One
Score the plantain lengthwise and peel it. To make peeling easier, run the plantain under hot water or let it sit in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Once peeled, score the plantain into two-inch sections.
Step Two
Break off the two-inch pieces and place them in a bowl. Drizzle them with avocado oil, using a pastry brush to ensure the plantain pieces are well coated.
Step Three
Place the plantain pieces in the air fryer, set it to 330°F, and cook for 12 minutes. If you're cooking two plantains at a time, increase the cooking time to 20 minutes.
Step Four
After 12 minutes, remove the plantains and smash them using a tostonera (if you have one). If not, you can flatten the plantains with a bowl or any flat-surfaced tool. Flatten them on a cutting board, marble countertop, or a large plate.
Once flattened, brush them again with avocado oil and return them to the air fryer at 330°F. Cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Tip! When placing the flattened, coated plantains back in the air fryer, make sure they aren’t overlapping to ensure even cooking.
Step Five
When done, place the patacones on a plate, sprinkle them with a pinch of sea salt flakes, and serve. You can enjoy patacones plain with a touch of salt as a snack or as a side dish.
Hogao Recipe
Follow this hogao (Colombian) arepa sauce recipe for full details.
Patacones con Hogao
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small pan, melt 1 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Add ½ cup diced tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped scallions, and a pinch of sea salt. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture softens and slightly caramelizes.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 330°F.
- Prep the Plantains: Score the plantains lengthwise and peel them. For easier peeling, rinse them under hot water or soak in warm water for a few minutes. Slice the peeled plantains into 2-inch chunks.
- First Air Frying Round: Place the plantain chunks in a bowl and brush them evenly with avocado oil. Arrange the chunks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Air fry at 330°F for 12 minutes (if using more than one plantain, increase cooking time to 20 minutes).
- Flatten the Plantains: Remove the plantains from the air fryer. Use a tostonera or the bottom of a bowl to flatten each chunk into a patacón, about ¼ inch thick.
- Second Air Frying Round: Brush the flattened plantains on both sides with avocado oil. Return them to the air fryer in a single layer and air fry at 330°F for 10 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
- Serve: Sprinkle the hot patacones with sea salt flakes. Serve with hogao sauce for dipping or as a topping.
Can’t wait to try these
Love it! 🙂