Pollo Campero–Seasoned Fried Plantain Chips Recipe

Lots of black and white pepper, curry powder, cumin, paprika, and more makes these plantain chips taste just like the seasoned golden crust on Pollo Campero's signature fried chicken.

By
Karla T. Vasquez
Karla T Vasquez is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Karla T. Vasquez
Karla T. Vasquez is the creator of SalviSoul, a food justice advocate, a food historian and a proponent for healthy food accessibility in low-income communities.
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Updated February 01, 2021
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Above photograph: Karla Vasquez. Recipe step photographs: Tim Chin

Why It Works

  • Slicing the plantains uniformly with a mandoline ensures even cooking.
  • A quick rest on a wire rack is all they need, no wasting paper towels.
  • Applying the spice mixture and salt right after frying ensures it adheres well.

These crispy and peppery fried plantain chips sport a spiced seasoning that will be familiar to anyone who knows the Pollo Campero restaurant chain, since it's modeled on their fried chicken seasoning. I'd already gone down the rabbit hole of making a copycat Pollo Campero fried chicken recipe, and I'd also recently published a recipe for basic fried plantain chips, so it seemed obvious to combine the two.

The fried chicken at Pollo Campero, a chain with roots in Guatemala that's now popular all over Central America and beyond, is one of their signature dishes. While their recipe is a trade secret, I worked out a spice mix that meets my taste memories: complex pepperiness from both white and black pepper, with added heat and aroma from a combination of cumin, curry powder, cayenne, and paprika. MSG adds an essential savory note (yes, you can leave it out, but it won't be quite the same).

Note that this recipe calls for a mandoline slicer, which produces uniformly thick plantain slices. If you don't have one, you can also use a vegetable peeler, though the thickness of the slices will vary, depending on the type of peeler you use, and the frying time will consequently be a little different.

Recipe Details

Pollo Campero–Seasoned Fried Plantain Chips Recipe

Active 25 mins
Total 25 mins
Serves 4 to 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons seasoning salt, such as Lawry's

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon white pepper

  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin

  • 1/2 teaspoon curry powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon MSG (optional)

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

  • 2 green plantains

  • Vegetable oil, for frying (about 2 cups; 475ml)

  • Kosher salt

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, stir together seasoning salt, black pepper, white pepper, cumin, curry powder, paprika, MSG (if using), and cayenne.

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  2. Cut off the ends of each plantain.

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  3. Peel plantains.

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  4. Cut plantains in half crosswise.

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  5. Using a mandoline slicer, slice plantains lengthwise into planks 1/8-inch thick.

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  6. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack. Fill a large, deep cast iron or stainless steel skillet halfway with oil. Set over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F (175°C). Working in batches and avoiding crowing the pan, add plantain slices and fry, turning occasionally, until golden brown all over, about 4 minutes total. Using a spider strainer or slotted spoon, transfer plantains to wire rack to drain. Immediately season all over with the spice mixture followed by a sprinkling of salt. Repeat with remaining plantain slices.

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Special Equipment

Mandoline slicer, spider or slotted spoon, instant-read thermometer, wire rack, rimmed baking sheet

Make-Ahead and Storage

The fried and seasoned chips can be held in an airtight container at room temperature for at least 1 day and up to 4, depending on ambient humidity.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
153 Calories
9g Fat
19g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 153
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 423mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 7mg 34%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 294mg 6%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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