Sweet, starchy and wonderfully caramelized when cooked, plantains are a staple of Latin American and Caribbean cooking. Roast them for Easy Baked Plantains with perfectly caramelized edges, or make them savory with Baked Plantains with Garlic and Butter, ready in just 30 minutes. And for an easy, impressive dinner, make Canoas, sweet plantains stuffed with a savory beef picadillo with olives and raisins, then topped with melty cheese. Tip: the riper the plantain, the sweeter it gets. For sweet, caramelized plantains, wait until the skin is mostly black.