Plantain

[meligu8]

Hi everyone, I was wondering if plantain is considered a fruit or a vegetable? It is a staple in south america and the caribbean but I don't know if I should be counting it in the two fruits a day guideline.

Thanks!

[Crider]

It's really a starch. Not sweet and useful for the same things a potato would be useful for.

[Pumpkin Pete]

It depends! When a plantain is green it is starchy and is used as a starch - In Africa for instance it replaces potato in many recipes. In it's starchy form you have to cook the plantain.
If however you let the plantain ripen fully which means the skin turns almost totally black the starches turn to sugar and the plantain can be counted as a fruit! When this happens you don't need to cook the plantain.
I like plantains when the skin is totally black and the plantain is soft and gooey.