Spicy Fried Plantains (Kelewele) – Ghana street food at its best!

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ghana-spicy-fried-plantain-kelewele

 

It doesn’t get more street food than Kelewele. Just ask any Ghanaian, if you don’t believe me. It’s also so popular and so steeped in culture that Kelewele is probably the one recipe that all my Ghanaian friends know how to recreate. I had the pleasure, at one point, of having a Ghanaian roommate at University, and this is the story of how I got hooked on Kelewele. Kelewele is no more than plantain, cubed or diagonally cut and coated in a mix of spices and fried to perfection.

 

Sharing a room with a Kelewele lover meant my room-mate always had several plantains on the go, and as soon as they ripened, she gingerly transformed them into Kelewele using a mix of spices shipped over to her by her family in Accra. You can imagine how, once I became hooked, I looked forward to these Kelewele days with heady anticipation.

 

 

I no longer have the convenience of my Kelewele-loving room-mate, so I have learned to develop my own Kelewele recipe, which hits the spot for me, time and time again. I also choose to cube the plantains because it reminds me of Dodo, which is Nigerian version of fried plantain.

 

Most Kelewele recipes call for a spice mixture that is paste-like because of the addition of water. I prefer making a “dry” spice rub as I find this sticks better to the plantain and delivers deeper flavours. Serve it as an appetiser, snack or a side dish, or pair it with some jollof rice or beans as a main dish. Or enjoy it with a dipping sauce like this pineapple and mango sweet chilli dip…. Yum!

 

The possibilities are endless.

 


 

Ghana-inspired Spicy Fried Plantain (Kelewele)
Ghana-inspired Spicy Fried Plantain (Kelewele)
Print Recipe
Add to Meal Plan:
This recipe has been added to your Meal Plan
Servings Prep Time
1 person 5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 person 5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Ghana-inspired Spicy Fried Plantain (Kelewele)
Ghana-inspired Spicy Fried Plantain (Kelewele)
Print Recipe
Add to Meal Plan:
This recipe has been added to your Meal Plan
Servings Prep Time
1 person 5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Servings Prep Time
1 person 5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Ingredients
Units:
Instructions
  1. Peel and cut the plantains into bite-sized cubes.
  2. Mix the spices - ginger, garlic, chilli powder, nutmeg and salt. Sprinkle the spice mix over the plantain and rub it in well.
  3. Heat the olive oil and when hot, add the cubes of plantain to the oil with a slotted spoon ensuring the pieces are not touching. You may need to do this in batches.
  4. Fry for a few minutes, turning over every now and then, until golden brown.
Recipe Notes

Keep a close eye on the plantain cubes while frying as they have a tendency to burn if left unattended.

 

Is this recipe right for you?

 

Nutrition Facts
Ghana-inspired Spicy Fried Plantain (Kelewele)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 345 Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 7g
Sodium 177mg 7%
Potassium 1041mg 30%
Total Carbohydrates 66g 22%
Dietary Fiber 5g 20%
Sugars 30g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin A 54%
Vitamin C 65%
Calcium 1%
Iron 7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

The information shown is an estimate, and does not replace a professional nutritionist’s advice.

 


 

Did you make this recipe?

Please let me know how it turned out for you. Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #africaonyourplate.

 

 

 

 

Emem..xo