These crispy air fryer tostones are a vegan appetizer, snack, or light lunch loaded with homemade guacamole and seasoned jackfruit!

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There was a lot of hype about jackfruit last year and for good reason!  The first time I tried it, I didn’t know there was a difference between the young unriped green fruit and the sweet, yellow, ripened fruit.  The first time I made vegan tacos, I ended up using ripened jackfruit.  Honestly, they weren’t that awful.  Sure, they were on the sweeter side.  But it was kind of like eating a mango salsa and I didn’t mind that.  

These days, I know better and grab cans of the young green fruit whenever I can.  Drain the brine, cut the jackfruit into smaller pieces, and cook until softened and easy to shred.  You’ll be surprised at how much jackfruit ends up looking like shredded pork or chicken!  Will the taste trick a meat eater?  Probably not.  But it does make an awesome meat substitute! 

My sister and I were trying to come up with new ways to use jackfruit in recipes.  She came up with the idea to top tostones with it.  So last week, I invited her over for lunch and whipped up some tostones topped with homemade guacamole and jackfruit.  It turned out to be a really delicious lunch!  And it was a good thing I ran to the store to get another plantain because we devoured every last tostone! 

How to make easy air fryer tostones

Tostones are twice fried plantains, fried in oil, then smashed to flatten, and fried once again.  I decided to try to make a healthier version by frying the plantains in my air fryer and it ended up working like a charm! 

They’re so easy to make, too!  Peel the plantain, slice, and toss with a little olive oil.  Then, pop them in the air fryer for 8 minutes.  When they’re done, take them out and give them a smash.  Then, return them to the air fryer one more time.  Add a little sprinkle of salt and you’ve got yourself crispy tostones!

You can stop there and have a tasty little side or snack.  But we decided to load our tostones with guacamole and jackfruit.  I whipped up a quick homemade guac with the usual – avocado, onion, lime juice, jalapeño, tomato, and spices.  Then, I heated olive oil in a pan and added my jackfruit.  

The jackfruit was seasoned with cumin, paprika, a pinch of cayenne, and cooked with lime juice and a little water.  Once it softened, I started breaking the jackfruit apart until it resembled shredded pork.  Then, I cooked it a few minutes longer until it started to brown.

All you have to do to put the loaded tostones together is top them with a spoonful of guacamole and jackfruit!  Serve them with some extra chopped cilantro and tomatoes.  And don’t forget the hot sauce!  

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Yum

Air Fryer Tostones with Jackfruit and Guacamole

Ingredients

For the tostones:
• 2 green plantains
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• Salt
For the guacamole:
• 2 avocados
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1/4 red onion, minced
• 1/2 tomato, diced
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 jalapeño, seeds removed and minced
• 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, stems removed and chopped
For the jackfruit:
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 - 20 oz. can young green jackfruit in brine
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup water
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/2 tsp. paprika

Instructions

For the tostones:
1. Cut the ends off the plantains. Then, cut a slit down the middle of the plantains.
2. Peel the plantains and cut into inch slices.
3. Toss the plantains with olive oil and place in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 8 minutes at 400 degrees.
4. While the plantains are warm, smash them with the bottom of a glass or jar. Then, place them back in the air fryer basket and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Sprinkle with salt and keep warm.
For the guacamole:
6. Cut open the avocados, remove the pits, and mash in a bowl.
7. Stir in the lime juice, onion, tomato, cumin, jalapeño, and cilantro.
8. Set aside.
For the jackfruit:
9. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
10. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
11. Add the jackfruit, lime juice, and water. Stir in the seasonings.
12. Cook about 10-15 minutes, until the jackfruit softens and can break apart easily.
13. Continue to cook the jackfruit until it browns.
To assemble the tostones:
14. Top each tostone with a spoonful of guacamole. Then, top with a heaping spoonful of jackfruit.
15. Serve with fresh cilantro, chopped tomato, and hot sauce, if desired.

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I kept the tostones in the oven to keep warm while I prepped the jackfruit, but you can give them a couple quick minutes in the air fryer before serving, if you wish.  Top them beforehand or serve everything separately.   

Did you make this Air Fryer Tostones with Jackfruit and Guacamole recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #livinglavidaeats. Don’t forget to tag me @lavidaholoka!

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If you like this recipe, you might enjoy these as well:

• Jackfruit & Black Bean Tostadas
• Vegan Breakfast Tostadas
• Chili Lime Air Fryer Chickpeas