Kelewele (Ghanaian Spicy Plantains recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is the English name for kelewele? ›

Kelewele is a popular Ghanaian food made of fried plantains seasoned with spices. In English, it is sometimes referred to as hot plantain crisps. In Accra, kelewele is usually sold at night by street vendors and sometimes in the afternoon by the country side women. Kelewele is also a popular choice for dinner.

Soaking green plantains can also add moisture to the naturally dry starch and help the tostones to crisp up nicely when they're fried.

Cook Plantains On Lower Heat To Ensure No Burnt Flavor

The fruit needs only a few minutes on each side until the outside hits an appealing golden-brown color. Anything darker and the result will be too dry; anything less, and the plantains will remain hard.

A ripe plantain is best when it's mostly black with a little yellow, and still slightly firm to the touch, like when you squeeze a peach. Although completely black plantains are still good to eat, they are a little too soft, making them difficult to prepare. But they're still delicious.

So what makes kelewele so delicious and addictive? Perhaps it is the combination of the sweet and spicy – the sweetness of the ripe plantains mixed with the fragrant sharpness of ginger, cayenne pepper and other spices.

History tells us that plantains are indigenous to equator-bordering lands in Southeast Asia. Spanish and African slave traders brought the fruit with them to the Caribbean on slave ships. Plantains proved to be a cheap and filling provision for enslaved men and women.

Plantains are a healthy food, but some ways of cooking them make them less healthy. Many plantain recipes call for frying. Because they easily absorb oil, this quickly raises the calorie and fat count per serving. Some other plantain dishes, such as those for desserts, include lots of added sugar.

Once cooked, unripe green plantains have the dense, starchy texture of taro. They are traditionally braised, fried, or mashed. A green plantain can go anywhere a potato can, making it a great choice to shake up your starch game.

Try it barbecued, fried or baked with plenty of spices and punchy flavours. Plantains look like large bananas, and can be green, yellow or almost black. They are generally eaten like a carbohydrate such as a potato rather than as a fruit, and this is how you need to think of them to cook them successfully.

Green plantains are hard, and the flesh is starchy, which means they can be cooked and enjoyed much the way you would a potato — boiled, baked, roasted or fried. When plantains become softer and start to yellow, the flesh begins to turn orange but keeps its starchy flavor and texture.

Can dogs eat plantains? ›

Yes. The cooking or vegetable banana is not harmful to dogs, but should not be served raw or in large quantities. Plantains contain dietary fiber and some anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

The high amount of potassium found in plantains is essential for maintaining the cell and body fluids that control your heart rate and blood pressure. The fiber in plantains also helps lower your cholesterol, which in turn keeps your heart functioning at its best.

If the outer skin is very brown or black and there's a strong, unpleasant odor from the plantain, it's a sign that it is spoiled. Also, take a peek at the fruit itself - if the flesh has turned dark or gray and has a putrid smell, it's time to toss it.

At its peak of ripeness, a plantain's skin will be dull yellow with black patches or be mostly black. Unripe plantains are green and turn cream to bright yellow in color. which are also fried to make tostones. A green plantain will eventually turn black. To ripen plantains at home, leave them on the counter.

A plantain is a type of green banana that can be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. A plantain is a wild plant with broad or narrow leaves and a head of tiny green flowers on a long stem.

This plantain and the rest of the plantain family are unrelated to the tropical banana-like plantains. Those fruits are in their own family and are more closely related to ginger and cardamom. English plantain has more in common with mints and lilacs.

Consuming foods rich in potassium, like kelewele, supports cardiovascular health and can contribute to a balanced diet. The inclusion of ginger in kelewele brings additional health perks. Ginger has been associated with various digestive benefits, including easing nausea and reducing inflammation.

There, by the way, the plantain used for cooking is usually known as plátano macho. Let's simplify this a bit. Plátano and plátano macho are terms used in Spain, México, Perú, Bolivia and Chile. Plátano means banana, and where it is consumed, plátano macho means plantain.