Dodo (Nigerian Plantains) Recipe

Dodo (no, not the chook) is a basic preparation of sweet, ripe plantains that’s effectively-beloved throughout Nigeria. You will discover it sliced and deep-fried as a snack, enjoyed as the primary event along with stews, sauces, fried yams, and sweet potatoes (yet another well-known street meals), or served as an accompaniment to rice and beans. 

The best plantains for dodo, in my intellect, have yellow skins speckled with a several black spots and give a minor when pressed, which jointly point out a diploma of ripeness that will deliver delicate, sweet fried plantains with crispy edges. Some others like to use wholly black plantains for their candy-like sweetness and custardy texture, although some decide for agency, starchy yellow or inexperienced ones. 

Choices also appear into perform when planning the plantains. Some dodo fans welcome the plantains cut to any condition and dimension. Other folks are particular that the dodo need to be slash in a way that will make feeling for how they’re going to be served: smaller cubes to accompany jollof rice, rounds to pair with stewed beans, or sliced on a bias in much larger slabs to serve as more of a primary dish. For me, tiny pieces make perception for pairings where dodo is a facet or accompaniment―a spoonful of diced dodo and creamy beans stability a single a different improved than a larger slice of plantain would. It’s all about the ratios! And when I’m getting dodo on its possess, a mouthful of caramelized sweetness that much larger slices supply paired with just a touch of sauce, enables the deliciousness of dodo to glow.

Even so the plantains are reduce, the upcoming choice is how and irrespective of whether to time, with salt becoming the most prevalent alternative. Some do not salt their plantains, even so I, and many others like me, respect the intensive “swalty” (sweet and salty) flavors that come from salting. Plantains don’t have a higher dampness content so salting them right before frying doesn’t draw out any liquids―it is purely for flavor. (Texturally, they also come to feel less gritty submit-salting and frying.) In addition to salt, you can time with one or more warming spices, this sort of as cayenne, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, to complement the caramelized plantain, which is regular of Ghana’s kelewele, a spiced fried plantain dish. When it comes to cooking, dodo is fried in vegetable oil, unrefined purple palm oil, or a combination of each (to mood the smoky taste of palm oil) till golden brown. 

Dodo is a dish I eat often, which means I often have ripe plantains on hand. Its sweet, caramelized flavor and flexibility as an appetizer, side dish, or principal training course cannot be beat. Considering the fact that its texture variations immediately after refrigeration and reheating (getting to be dense, chewy, and even chalky), dodo is very best when it’s freshly fried.