Everybody loves plantain, I’m yet to meet someone who doesn’t enjoy the awesomeness of plantain. They are common and also a major staple food in West and Central Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Coastal parts of South America, Central and Northern America. One amazing fact about plantains is that they’re available all year round, easy to find and are very cheap. Plantains are rich sources of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and also minerals; magnesium and potassium. The high amount of potassium found in plantains is essential for maintaining the cells and body fluid that controls the heart rate and blood pressure.
There are so many ways to eat plantains; they can be boiled, fried,
roasted ( bole), steamed, dried and
made into flour which can be used for eating soups ( amala). They can also be made into drinks. Yes, you read that right, in Peru, plantains are boiled and blended with water, spices, and sugar to make Chapo.
In Nigeria however, fried plantain is most loved as it can be eaten with rice dishes, beans, eggs, and sauces. I recently just discovered another amazing way to enjoy eating plantains. Plantain fritata is your typical plantain and egg that schooled abroad.
Here’s the recipe:
(Servings for 3 people)
*INGREDIENTS
2 plantains
3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
50g of gruyère cheese, you can substitute with cheddar cheese
½ medium onion, sliced
3 garlic cloves
½ medium red bell pepper, sliced
½ medium green bell pepper, sliced
1 scotch bonnet, chopped
2 medium fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/8 tbsp of thyme
¼ tsp of curry powder
Ground pepper
8 large eggs
1 seasoning cube
Salt to taste
*COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
1.Thinly slice the plantains. Place in a bowl and add salt to taste. Mix thoroughly. Heat the frying pan and when hot, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and fry the plantain for about 2-3 minutes each side until it is soft and golden. Remove from heat and set aside.
CAUTION: DO NOT LEAVE PLANTAIN UNATTENDED TO WHEN FRYING TO KEEP IT BURNING
2.In a skillet, pour the remaining olive oil and heat up with medium heat, then add the onions, garlic, tomatoes and scotch bonnet and sauté for 3 minutes until the onions are soft. Then add curry powder, thyme, seasoning cube, and leave for another 2 minutes. Finally, add the bell peppers, leave for a minute, take it off the heat and set aside.
3.In another bowl, mix the eggs, grated cheese, ground pepper and salt. Whisk very well then add in the sautéed onions and garlic mixture, stir until properly combined.
4.Pour mixture into a 10-inch greased baking pan. Lay the fried plantain gently on top of the egg mixture
5.Bake in a 350 ℉ pre heated for about 25-30 minutes. Insert a fork into the centre and if it comes out clean then the fritata is ready. Allow to cool before serving.
Image source:https://zeeliciousfoods.com