On my recent trip to Jamaica, while staying at a well loved resort, I ordered plantains for breakfast. Sadly, I was advised that it was only available at this particular resort for lunch and dinner. This was very much a surprise to me as growing up and living in Jamaica, plantains were solely consumed at breakfast time. Why the change? Before going any further, I must also note that it is not pronounced as “plantains”, it’s plant–tin and also in the singular form. Yes, always. Plantains are a type of banana. It’s usually bigger in size than the average banana and is more of a starchy fruit. It can be enjoyed raw when ripened, but it is mostly prepared for consumption using various cooking methods. It’s well known fried, but in Jamaica we commonly roast and boil plant-tin as well. Another way of knowing it’s authentically Jamaican is that it’s cut on the diagonal.
For the past five years or so plantains have been having a moment. It is the talk of the town and “food porn” on all the social media platforms. The latest Tik Tok recipe video I saw used plantains as the crust for a pizza and ackee prepared with bell peppers for toppings! That actually sounds good. It’s not necessarily new and/or unique, but it’s nice to switch things up a little. Ackee is a breakfast dish in Jamaica and is at times accompanied by plant-tin. Thus, this Tik Tok “discovery” is not at all far-fetched. However, with the cultural phenomenon of its newfound fame, plantains are in everything. I’m not complaining, I just want to know why it’s suddenly not categorized as a breakfast dish, as I’ve always known it to be.
Plantains are mainly from the tropics and Southeast Asia — where the fruit is largely an accompaniment to a main meal. In Jamaica, it’s also served as a side dish for breakfast and at times as a snack or weekend breakfast choice when it hasn’t yet ripened — because it usually takes more time to prepare. Fried plant-tin doesn’t make its way past the breakfast table as, while it is popularly enjoyed, it is viewed poorly as a meal outside this time of day. Fried plant-tin and bread hits the spot every time, but this is only acceptable at breakfast. It’s not regarded as a complete meal and if you’re eating past the culturally appropriate time, it’s not only considered a poor choice, but it’s also not in keeping with tradition and that is often worse. In Jamaica, we’re serious about complete meals — a protein, starch and the occasional vegetable. A fruit for dinner, that’s nonsense.
The only time plant-tin is available at dinner is when it’s boiled or roasted as a vegetable with other ground foods. It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but it’s really a sweet vegetable. This generally happens when the season’s harvest is plentiful and to avoid waste we start to prepare it with evening meals. Why all the rules? What can I say, but slavery. Centuries-old traditions manifest themselves in new ways. We choose to pass on a food that we view as “common” and thus, too poor for the family’s main dish, to now happily accept it when others find value, but on their terms.
I am happy to report that the next day the resort righted their wrong and plant-tin was available specially for me at breakfast. Lets all break all the self-imposed rules; plant-tin morning, noon and night.