Night Snack · Spiced Plantain

Kelewele

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It's basically fried candy disguised as a savory snack — sweet ripe plantain lit up with chili and ginger.

Ripe plantain cut into chunks, tossed in a paste of ginger, chili pepper, and spices like nutmeg or cloves, then deep-fried until dark and caramelized at the edges. Classically sold at night by roadside vendors in Accra, scooped into a bag and topped with roasted peanuts.

Why it's made this way: Using overripe, naturally sweet plantain balanced against sharp ginger and chili heat makes kelewele a snack that works equally well as a late-night treat, a side, or a stand-alone dessert.