Snack
25 min total Serves 4
Kelewele (Spiced Fried Plantain)
Sweet, ripe plantain cubes spiced with ginger and pepper and fried golden in Frytol. A beloved Ghanaian street snack.
Made with
Frytol
What do I need for Kelewele (Spiced Fried Plantain)?
Serves 4
- 3 whole ripe plantains
- 1 thumb fresh ginger
- 1 tsp cayenne or dried pepper
- 0.25 tsp ground cloves or nutmeg
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 2 cups Frytol cooking oil
Tips
- Use plantains with black-spotted skins — the riper they are, the sweeter the kelewele.
- Do not crowd the pan; frying in batches keeps the oil hot and the cubes crisp.
How do I make Kelewele (Spiced Fried Plantain)?
-
1
Peel the plantains and cut into bite-size cubes.
-
2
Grate the ginger and mix with the pepper, cloves and salt.
-
3
Toss the plantain cubes in the spice mix until well coated.
-
4
Heat the Frytol in a deep pan to a medium-high frying temperature.
-
5
Fry the plantain in batches until deep golden, 3–4 minutes per batch.
-
6
Drain on paper and serve warm, on its own or with roasted groundnuts.
Frequently asked about Kelewele (Spiced Fried Plantain)
- What oil is best for frying kelewele?
- A light vegetable oil such as Frytol works well, as its neutral flavour lets the spiced plantain shine.
- How ripe should plantains be for kelewele?
- Very ripe — the skins should be yellow with plenty of black spots, which gives the natural sweetness kelewele is known for.