Plantains look like bananas but are a bit thicker and starchier. They can be used in so many ways! The first picture to the right shows plain, boiled plantains. They are delicious on their own. I cut the plantain into three pieces and put them in boiling water for about 15 minutes until they were soft enough to pierce with a fork. The next picture is a fancy version of the popular patacones. Patacones (pronounced pat-ah-kon-ehs) are made by slicing plantains into small disks and frying them in oil. These ones have a yummy green salsa on top. They are usually served with fried sea bass in Panama. Finally, at my favorite coffee shop, I tried a vegetarian burger made of lentils. But instead of bread, the bun was made of giant patacones.
Another one of my favorites in Panama is fried fish. As I mentioned before, because Panama is close to the ocean, fish is very popular. It is common to serve the whole body of the fish. If you ever eat a fish like this, just make sure you are careful about the bones. Fish bones are tiny and almost clear, so they can be difficult to see. Another popular way to eat fish in Panama and the rest of Latin America are fish tacos, like the ones in the picture.
Next up—papayas and mangos. These tropical fruits are found all over Panama! I normally eat papaya plain or in a smoothie. It is a great fruit for your digestive system if you have an upset stomach. The most popular tropical fruit is mango. Many people in Panama even have mango trees in their yard and there is an annual mango festival in a small-town west of the city. When I walk down the street to work, I often see mangoes falling into my path.
