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The Global Kitchen
Fried Ripe Plantains and Yams
We have talked about plantains before in a previous recipe for
Plantain Pottage.
In that other recipe, we told you that plantains are in the banana family, but they are not bananas! We told you there are several ways to prepare plantains. In any case plantains have to be cooked before eating. It is not advisable to eat them raw like bananas.
Our current recipe, fried plantains, is usually prepared as a breakfast dish. It can also be prepared and served as a side order to another, main, dish for any other meal of the day. Combined with fried yams, plantain makes for a delicious breakfast. Its sweetness and soft texture contrasts well with the yam's blander taste and french fry-like texture.
Most hotels in Nigeria have plantains on their menu as a "Nigerian Breakfast" dish.
Your local African food store will have everything you need to prepare plantains.
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Fried Plantains and Yams |
For our recipe, you need the following: |
Main Ingredients
(1) Ripe Plantains* -- 4 (About 4lbs).
(2) Yam -- 0.75 lb slice
(3) Onion -- 1 medium bulb
(4) Pepper -- to taste
(5) vegetable oil -- 1 teaspoon
(6) Fresh Tomatoes -- 3-4 fruits
(7) Salt -- to taste
(8) Bullion Stock -- 1 cube beef or chicken
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*Note: The riper the plantain, the sweeter and softer and less firm it becomes.
Preparation and Cooking:
- Peel and thinly slice the ripe Plantains diagonally into approximately1/6 inch strips and place in a large bowl.
- Peel, wash and slice the yams into 1/4 inch thick strips. Depending on the diameter of the yam, you may have to further reduce the strips into inch-wide slabs. Place the sliced yams in the same bowl as the sliced plantains.
- add about 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste) of salt to the sliced plantain/yam bowl. Mix well.
- Preheat the oil in the deep fryer to about 75 to 100 degrees Celsius. If a deep
fryer is not available, use a pot or frying pan with about 1/3 inch deep oil in it. after pre-heating the oil in the pan, begin to drop the yam and plantain slices into the hot oil. Ensure that the oil covers all or most of the slices as they fry. This might mean doing them in two or three separate batches. If you are using the deep fryer, you can deep the whole thing in at once.
- Let fry for about five minutes or until the plantain begins to turn golden brown. The yams should slightly browned also and crisp on the outside. The longer you let things fry, the browner and crisper they become. You don't want them too hard or burnt. If the plantain is very ripe, it should remain soft after frying.
- Pick out the fried yams and plantains from the oil and place in a tissue covered platter. The tissue will absorb excess oil from the plantains and yams.
Preparing the Sauce:
- Wash and slice the tomatoes into tiny cubes or use the grinder to puree them.
- Peel and slice the onion and the pepper, if fresh.
- In a sauce pot, bring the pureed or diced tomatoes to a boil. Do not add any water. Let cook until most of the liquid evaporates from the tomatoes, them add onions and peppers.
Dissolve the bullion in a half cup of hot water and add to the pot. Add the teaspoon of vegetable oil. Stir, cover and let cook for another 2-3 minutes. The sauce is ready.
The Serving:
- This should make enough serving for 3 to 4 adults.
- The slices of plantain and yam should be laid out on serving plates with
scoops of the source poured over them in a good presentation.
- The dish should be accompanied with tea or coffee or a cereal like
Quaker oats.
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Bon appétit! |
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