{{Short description|Cooked dish made from plantains}} {{redirect-distinguish|Plantain chip|Banana chip}} {{Cleanup reorganize|date=June 2025}} [[File:Vendeuses de bananes plantain.jpg|thumb|280px|Roasted plantain sellers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]]
'''Fried plantain''' is a dish cooked wherever plantains grow, from West Africa to East Africa as well as Central America, the tropical region of northern South America and the Caribbean countries such as Haiti and Cuba and in many parts of Southeast Asia and Oceania, where fried snacks are widely popular. In Indonesia, it is called ''pisang goreng''. It is called ''dodo'' in Yoruba in South West Nigeria,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dodo (Fried Plantains) Recipe |url=https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020283-dodo-fried-plantains |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=NYT Cooking |language=en-US}}</ref> otherwise known as simply fried plantain in other parts of Nigeria. ''Kelewele'' is a fried spicy plantain typically served as a side dish for red red (African stewed black-eyed peas) and fish stew in Ghana.<ref>{{cite book|last=Isoun|first=H.O. Anthonio, M.|title=Nigerian cookbook|url=https://archive.org/details/nigeriancookbook00anth|url-access=registration|year=1983|publisher=Macmillan|location=London|isbn=0333326989|edition=Repr.}}</ref>
Fried plantain is also eaten in some countries in South America and the Caribbean where African influence is present. For example in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and to a lesser extent Cuba, it is common to cut plantains into slices, fry them until they are yellow, smash them between two plates and fry them again. Puerto Rico has ''mofongo'', a dish consisting of fried and pounded plantains with ''chicharrón'', spices, fat (butter, lard or olive oil) and usually in a broth or served with meat, seafood on top or on the side. This is also a common dish in Haiti, referred to as ''bannann peze'', and throughout Central America, referred to as ''patacones'' in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador, and as ''tostones'' in Nicaragua and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. In Honduras and Venezuela they are referred to as ''tajadas''. Puerto Rico also has ''arañitas'' (spiders), where green and yellow plantains are shredded together, seasoned, shaped into patties then fried until crisp. Other traditional fried plantain dishes in Puerto Rico include ''alcapurria'', ''pionono'', ''ralleno de amarillo'' (similar to ''papa rellena'' but made with yellow plantain instead of potato), and ''bolitas de plátano'' (plantain dumplings).
==Consumption and uses== Fried plantain may be served as a snack, a starter or a side dish to the main course, such as with Jollof rice, spicy barbecued meat, tomato stew or beans. It is made in different ways: salted or unsalted, cut into "ears" or "fingers", diced or fried whole.
In the Spanish-speaking Caribbean fried green plantains are eaten with mojo sauce in Cuba and Puerto Rico and wasakaka in the Dominican Republic, both a wet savory garlic sauce. They are sometimes eaten with ketchup or a mayonnaise-ketchup mixture. In the Pacific city of Cali, Colombia, plantains are eaten fried and accompanied by a condiment called Hogao. Sweet plantains are also served with savory entrees in the Caribbean, especially the Spanish-speaking islands, Pacific Colombia and Jamaica.
=== In Africa === thumb|''Dodo'' ''Alloco'', as it is called in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, is called ''dodo'' (Yoruba) in Nigeria, missolè in Cameroon, ''kɔkɔɔ a y’akyi'' (Twi) in Ghana and ''makemba'' in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The name ''alloco'' (sometimes seen as ''aloko'') comes from the Baoulé, an ethnic group found in the Eastern Ivory Coast. It is derived from the word ''loko'', which signified if a plantain was ripe.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-04-10 |title=Alloco: Ivorian Fried Plantains |url=https://blog.arousingappetites.com/alloco-ivorian-fried-plantains/ |access-date=2022-04-27 |website=Arousing Appetites: Home to the Serious Cook |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516092959/https://blog.arousingappetites.com/alloco-ivorian-fried-plantains/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is a popular West African snack made from fried plantain. It is often served with chili pepper and onions. In West Africa, it often serves as a side or can be consumed by itself.
Gizdodo is a side dish in Nigeria containing fried plantain and grilled gizzard.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Onyeakagbu |first=Adaobi |date=2018-07-04 |title=Try this simple gizzard and dodo recipe |url=https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/gizdodo-try-this-simple-gizzard-and-dodo-recipe/yh669lq |access-date=2022-06-23 |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
''Alloco'' is widely considered as fast-food and is sold on the streets of Côte d'Ivoire. An area with many grilled meat and ''alloco'' food vendors in the Cocody neighborhood is named Allocodrome, after this dish.
==== ''Ipekere'' ==== thumb|Ipekere ''Ipekere'' is a traditional Nigerian snack with roots in Yoruba cuisine. They are plantain chips. They are made from ripe and unripe plantains that are sliced into thin rounds or thin vertical shapes and deep-fried to achieve a crispy texture. The name is derived from the Yoruba language and is widely recognized throughout Nigeria.
This traditional snack has a long history and is cherished for its delightful taste and simplicity. They are a staple in Yoruba cuisine and is enjoyed by people of all ages across Nigeria. In January 2024, a viral picture on social media depicted a woman processing the plantain chips with polythene nylon in hot vegetable oil; thus, citizens of Nigeria and Lagos State in particular were asked by NAFDAC to be careful of where they make purchase of the snacks, and ensure that they are registered with them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ubanagu |first=Makua |date=2024-01-20 |title=NAFDAC probes 'poisonous' plantain chips allegation |url=https://punchng.com/nafdac-probes-poisonous-plantain-chips-allegation/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-10-14 |newspaper=The Punch|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chukwunedu |first=Chioma |date=2024-01-17 |title=Lagos State alerts residents on poisonous plantain chips |url=https://nairametrics.com/2024/01/17/lagos-state-alerts-residents-on-poisonous-plantain-chips/ |access-date=2024-10-14 |website=Nairametrics |language=en-US}}</ref>
===== Preparation ===== To prepare ''ipekere'', ripe plantains are peeled and sliced into thin, uniform shapes, typically using a knife or a mandoline slicer. These are deep-fried until they turn golden brown, resulting in a crunchy and slightly sweet snack.<ref>{{Cite web |last=for #OunjeAladun |first=Omolabake |date=2015-03-14 |title=Ipekere (Plantain Chips) |url=https://ounjealadun.com/2015/03/14/ipekere-plantain-chips/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Ounje Aladun |language=en-GB}}</ref> Ipekere is seasoned with salt or sugar. They can also be flavoured with different spices, such as cayenne pepper, ginger, onion powder, or garlic powder. Some people also fry onions and fresh ginger along with the plantain slices for added flavour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Lola |date=2023-06-14 |title=Mama Gabi's Ipekere (Plantain Chips) |url=https://pan-african.net/recipe/mama-gabis-ipekere-plantain-chips/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=pan-African |language=en-US}}</ref>
==== ''Kelewele'' ==== {{Infobox food | name = Kelewele | image = Kelewele.jpg | image_size = 250px | caption = | alternate_name = | country = Ghana | region = | creator = | course = | type = Snack | served = | main_ingredient = Plantains, spices | variations = | calories = | other = }}
''Kelewele'' is a popular Ghanaian food made of fried plantains seasoned with spices.<ref name="Harris1976">{{cite book|author=Elizabeth Harris|title=Ghana: a travel guide : supplementary notes on Togo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=skwuAQAAIAAJ|access-date=14 June 2011|year=1976|publisher=Aburi Press}}</ref> Kelewele is also the name of the spice mix itself.<ref>https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/761774019-kelewele-spiced-pork-chops-and-pears</ref> In Accra, kelewele is usually sold at night by street vendors and sometimes in the afternoon by the country side women.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ph of Banana |url=https://phofbanana.com/}}</ref><ref name="ccb">{{Cite web | title = Kelewele - The Congo Cookbook (African recipes) www.congocookbook.com - | url = http://www.congocookbook.com/vegetable_and_side_dish_recipes/kelewele.html | access-date = 14 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923201611/http://www.congocookbook.com/vegetable_and_side_dish_recipes/kelewele.html | archive-date = 23 September 2015 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Kuper1997">{{cite book|author=Jessica Kuper|title=The Anthropologists' Cookbook|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENfWAAAAMAAJ|access-date=14 June 2011|date=January 1997|publisher=Kegan Paul International|isbn=978-0-7103-0531-2}}</ref><ref name=Osseo-Asare>{{cite journal |last=Osseo-Asare |first=Fran |year=2002 |title="We Eat First With Our Eyes": On Ghanaian Cuisine |journal=Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=49–57 |publisher=University of California Press |doi=10.1525/gfc.2002.2.1.49 |jstor=10}}</ref> ''Kelewele'' is also a popular choice for dinner.<ref name="Medearis2004">{{cite book|author=Angela Shelf Medearis|title=The ethnic vegetarian: traditional and modern recipes from Africa, America, and the Caribbean|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781579546182|url-access=registration|access-date=14 June 2011|date=14 September 2004|publisher=Rodale|isbn=978-1-57954-618-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781579546182/page/7 7]}}</ref> It is often served with beans stew, peanuts,<ref name="Osseo-Asare" /> or alone as a dessert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghanaian Recipes |url=http://www.ghanaianrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/sampleghanaianrecipesebook.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325173910/http://www.ghanaianrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/sampleghanaianrecipesebook.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2012 |access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref>
Originally from Ghana, ''kelewele'' has been popularized in America by several recipe books (recipezaar, 2009)
===== Preparation ===== The plantains are peeled and may be cut into chunks or cubes.<ref name=Osseo-Asare/> Ginger, cayenne pepper, and salt are the typical spices used to make ''kelewele.''<ref name="ccb"/><ref name=Osseo-Asare/><ref name="Kordylas1990">{{cite book|author=J. Maud Kordylas|title=Processing and preservation of tropical and subtropical foods|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UqJKAAAAYAAJ|access-date=14 June 2011|date=6 February 1990|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-333-46845-6|page=84}}</ref> Onions, anise, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and chili powder, however, may also be used as spices.<ref name="ccb"/> Commercial preparations exist that can simplify preparation and offer a standardized taste.<ref>{{Cite web | title = ANIS Spices Facebook Page | website=Facebook | url = https://www.facebook.com/pages/ANIS-Spices/218831041474906?fref=nf | access-date = 9 October 2014 }}</ref> The oil should be hot and the plantain should not be too soft or it will absorb too much oil.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|author=Lydia Polgreen|title=A Taste of Ghana|date=February 1, 2006|work=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/01/dining/01ghana.html?ex=1296450000&en=f328262b060f2c20&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|access-date=2008-08-05}}</ref> The plantain should be fried until the sugar in it caramelizes, and produces brown edges on the plantain.<ref name="Kordylas1990"/><ref name="nyt"/>
[[File:Kelewele Seller in Takoradi.jpg|thumb|Kelewele vendor in Takoradi, Ghana]]
<gallery class="center" widths="220px" heights="160px"> File:Fried plantains.jpg|Plantains being fried File:Un plat d'alloco Fried Plantains.JPG|A platter of fried plantains </gallery>
==See also== {{portal|Food}} * Banana chip * Banana fritter * Chifle * List of banana dishes * Tostones * Vegetable chips
==References== {{commons}} {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{Cite web|url=https://www.nigeriafoodrecipes.com/fried-plantain/|title=Fried plantain|date=2019-05-18|website=Nigerian Food Recipes|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-04}} * {{Cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/plant/plantain |title=Plantain |date=2019-09-09 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-20}} * http://www.raw-food-health.net/Plantains.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929121345/http://www.raw-food-health.net/Plantains.html |date=2022-09-29 }}
== External links == * [https://cheflolaskitchen.com/fried-plantains/ Fried Plantain Recipe] * [https://cheflolaskitchen.com/fried-plantain-chips/ Fried Plantain Chips]
{{Banana}} {{African cuisine}}
Category:Yoruba cuisine Category:African cuisine Category:Caribbean cuisine Category:Oceanian cuisine Category:South Asian cuisine Category:Southeast Asian cuisine Category:Plantain dishes Category:Fried foods Category:Street food Category:Mexican desserts