Plantain is one of the most common ingredients used in Nigerian cuisine - and for good reason. Not only is it delicious, it is also rich in nutrients (including vitamin A and C) and minerals (iron, phosphorous and magnesium), helps to remedy problems with constipation and irregular bowel movements and is famous for its potassium content (which is higher than that of bananas). Here are our top 3 vegetarian recipes which use plantain as a main ingredient.
Plantain Mosa (Puffs)
This decadent recipe makes for a wonderful breakfast treat or a pick-me-up snack for later in the day. It is recommended that you use over-ripe plantain for best results. Use 2 teaspoons of fast action yeast and mix it with 8 tablespoons of warm water. Cover and set aside. Next, peel one over-ripe plantain and mash with a fork. Sift 3 heaped tablespoons of plain flour, with a sprinkle of salt, into a bowl. Add the yeast and stir. You want to achieve a smooth consistency that is not too thick. Mix in the mashed plantain and allow to rest for 15 minutes. Next, beat the batter and add Habanero pepper to taste. Heat vegetable oil in a pot - it should be about 3 inches deep - and scoop small amounts of the batter into the oil. Stir consistently until cooked through and golden. Drain and enjoy! 1
Plantain Mosa (Pancakes)
For this Nigerian pancake recipe, you will need an over-ripe plantain, an egg, vegetable oil, evaporated milk, cool water, ½ teaspoon of salt and 3 tablespoons of plain flour. Beat the egg inside a bowl and set aside. Next, mash the peeled plantain and add a bit of cool water in order to attain a medium consistency. Sift the mixture into the bowl containing the beaten egg and mix well. Sift the plain flour into the bowl and mix again. Add salt, 2 tablespoons of evaporated milk and a pinch of cayenne pepper for flavour. Grease a frying pan and heat the oil. Pour a small amount of the mixture into the pan (approximately 5mm thick and 5 inches in diameter). Allow to fry for a short while before flipping over. Continue until you have used up all of your batter. Then serve up and enjoy! 2
Plantain Porridge
This porridge is a firm favourite in Nigeria and is traditionally made using unripe plantain. For this recipe, you will need three pieces of plantain, a big bunch of pumpkin leaves, one fish (medium sized), one to two teaspoons of ground crayfish, two onions, red palm oil, two stock cubes, and salt and pepper. Cut your plantain into smaller pieces and place into a pot. Next, add chopped onions, the fish, stock cubes and ground crayfish - you may also season the ingredients with pepper at this stage. Add water, so that all ingredients are submerged, and allow the contents to reach boiling point. Once the water is boiling, add your red palm oil to achieve the desired colour and sprinkle in some salt. Cover the pot and allow to simmer until the plantain becomes tender. Finally, add the vegetables and cover the pot once again. Once it has heated up, stir, turn off the heat and leave to stand for at least 5 minutes before plating.
Thanks to these easy Nigerian recipes, you will never again have to worry about impressing your family and friends with delicious, new and exciting dishes throughout the week. So turn on that stove and get creative!
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