Kelewele Plantain
by Marcus Samuelsson on Jan 14, 2020
Kelewele is a popular Ghanaian dish made of fried plantains seasoned with spices. The recipe appears courtesy of Ope Amosu, who is featured in the Houston episode of No Passport Required.
- Servings
- 2-4 servings
- Course
- Side Dish
Tags
Ingredients
- 4 ripe plantains with black marks on the peel
- ¼ of medium-sized peeled red onion (approximately 0.12 oz)
- 2 tablespoons chopped ginger
- 2 teaspoons of minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Oil for deep frying
Instructions
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Prepare the Plantains:
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Peel plantains. Tip: to peel, cut both ends of the plantain and then cut a vertical seam down the outer skin.
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Cut peeled plantains in half, vertically.
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Slice plantains into diagonal pieces, roughly the width of your pinky finger, and set aside.
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Prepare the Kelewele Marinade :
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In a blender, liquify the onion, ginger, and garlic, using just enough water to facilitate blending process.
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Add cayenne pepper, lemon, nutmeg, salt and bouillon.
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Mix evenly and set aside.
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Marinate the Plantains :
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In a large bowl, toss the plantain slices in the kelewele marinade.
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Allow the plantains to marinate in the refrigerator for 45-90 minutes.
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Fry the Plantains:
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Heat approximately ¾” of oil in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
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Fry the plantain slices, turning once, until golden brown.
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Tip: Do not overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches if necessary.
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Remove the plantains from the pan and place on a drying rack to remove excess oil. tip: As an alternative to a drying rack, us a plate lined with a napkin.
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Serve warm.