Kelewele
Ripe plantain cubes tossed in ginger, chili and spices, then fried until caramelized outside and creamy inside. It is Ghana's favorite street snack.
Vendeuses de bananes plantain: Romanceor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Where it comes from
Kelewele is sold in the evenings by street vendors across Ghana, often with roasted peanuts. It is also popular in neighboring countries.
Explore the cuisine of Ghana.
Recipe
Make Kelewele at home
Ingredients
- 4 very ripe plantains
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 small onion, grated
- oil for frying
- roasted peanuts for serving
How it's made
- Peel the plantains and cut into 3/4-inch cubes.
- Mix ginger, cayenne, cloves, nutmeg, salt and onion into a paste.
- Toss the plantain with the spice paste and let sit 15 minutes.
- Heat about 1 inch of oil to 350 F.
- Fry in batches for 3-4 minutes until dark golden and crisp at the edges.
- Drain and serve warm with peanuts.
Variations
- Baked kelewele: tossed with a little oil and roasted.
- Kelewele with grated coconut.
Cook’s tip: Choose plantains with mostly black skin for maximum sweetness.
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About this page
Description and method written by Intercontinental Chef. Home-style method; quantities are a starting point, so adjust to taste.
Photo credit
- Vendeuses de bananes plantain: Romanceor, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)