Ghanaian Red Red with Fried Plantains

Name: Ghanaian Red Red with Fried Plantains
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: 2 cups black-eyed peas; 1 large onion; 2 cloves garlic; 1 tablespoon ginger; 1 red bell pepper; 2 tomatoes; 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; Salt and pepper; 3 ripe plantains; 1 cup vegetable oil; Salt

A hearty West African bean stew with crispy plantains

Dive into the rich flavors of Ghana with this comforting dish featuring a spicy bean stew paired with sweet, fried plantains.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Red Red (Bean Stew)

2 cups black-eyed peas

pre-cooked or canned, drained and rinsed

1 large onion

finely chopped

2 cloves garlic

minced

1 tablespoon ginger

grated

1 red bell pepper

diced

2 tomatoes

diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

to taste

For the Fried Plantains

3 ripe plantains

peeled and sliced diagonally

1 cup vegetable oil

for frying

Salt

to taste

Preparation

Marinating the Beans

Combine the beans

In a large bowl, combine the black-eyed peas, a pinch of salt, and set aside to absorb flavors.

Ensure the beans are thoroughly cooked before adding to the stew to avoid a hard texture.

Preparing the Stew Base

Heat oil

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pot over medium heat.

Sauté aromatics

Add onions, garlic, and ginger, sauté until the onions are translucent.

Cook peppers and tomatoes

Stir in red bell peppers and tomatoes, cooking for another 5 minutes.

For a smoky flavor, consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika.

Cooking Process

Stew Creation

Add tomato paste and cayenne pepper to the onion mixture, stirring well, then add the beans and simmer for 20 minutes.

Simmer the stew for about 20 minutes.

Plantain Frying

Heat vegetable oil in a skillet, fry plantain slices until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.

Fry the plantains over medium-high heat until caramelized, about 10 minutes.

Final Seasoning

Adjust salt and pepper in the stew to taste before serving.

Plating & Serving