Alloco (Ivorian Fried Plantains)
In short: Ripe plantain slices fried until caramelized outside and creamy inside, served hot with a spicy onion, tomato and chili sauce. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 390 kcal
Alloco is ripe plantain cut into thick slices and fried until caramelized at the edges and soft inside. It is one of Côte d'Ivoire's favorite street snacks, eaten at any hour with a spicy sauce of onion, tomato and chili, and often alongside grilled fish or fried eggs. The riper the plantain, the sweeter and darker the alloco, so choose fruit that is yellow with plenty of black spots.
Instructions
- Trim both ends of each plantain, slit the skin lengthwise and peel it away. Cut the flesh diagonally into slices about 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) thick.
- For the sauce, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan over medium heat. Cook the onion for 5 minutes until soft.
- Add the tomatoes, chili and salt and cook for 8 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick and jammy. Keep warm.
- Heat the frying oil to 170°C (340°F) in a deep, heavy pan. Fry the plantain in 3 or 4 batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once, until deep golden with dark caramelized edges.
- Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the salt while hot. Serve at once with the sauce.
Tips
- Use plantains that are mostly yellow with black spots. Green ones fry up starchy and dry, and fully black ones can turn mushy.
- Do not crowd the pan. Overcrowding drops the oil temperature and gives pale, greasy alloco.
Questions and answers
What do you eat alloco with?
In Côte d'Ivoire it comes with spicy onion and tomato sauce, grilled fish or chicken, and sometimes a fried egg. It is also a popular snack on its own.
Can I bake alloco instead of frying it?
Yes. Toss the slices with 2 tablespoons of oil and roast at 220°C (425°F) for 25 minutes, turning once, until browned. The texture is softer than fried.
How do I know if my plantains are ripe enough?
The skin should be mostly yellow with many black patches, and the fruit should give slightly when pressed. They taste sweet when raw.
How long does it take to make Alloco (Ivorian Fried Plantains)?
About 1 h in total: 20 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Alloco (Ivorian Fried Plantains)?
About 390 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 53 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 390 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 53 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 24 g |
| Sodium | 580 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
