Kelewele-Style Spiced Fried Plantains

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-01 · Updated 2026-06-01

A popular Ghanaian street food of diced fried plantains tossed in a warm blend of spices for a sweet, spicy, and savory snack. This African-inspired recipe (vegan), ready in about 30 minutes, turns ripe plantains, ginger powder, cayenne pepper into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 medium ripe plantains
• 1 tsp ginger powder
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• for frying, about 4 cups vegetable oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Peel 3 medium ripe plantains and dice into 1/2-inch cubes. Place the cubed plantains in a large bowl.
2. Step 2: Add 1 tsp ginger powder, 1 tsp cayenne pepper, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder to the plantains. Toss thoroughly to coat each piece evenly with the spice mixture.
3. Step 3: Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep frying pan or pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (use a thermometer or test with a small plantain piece).
4. Step 4: Fry the seasoned plantain cubes in batches for 4-5 minutes per batch, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and crispy on the edges.
5. Step 5: Drain the fried plantains on paper towels and serve hot as a snack or side dish.