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Fried Plantain Chips

Also known as Fried Plantain Chips (Dodo Chips)

Fried Plantain Chips are a modern Nigerian snack derived from the traditional love of Dodo (fried plantain). Made from unripe or semi-ripe plantains sliced paper-thin and fried until perfectly crisp, these golden chips are salted and spiced with chilli and are sold in bags across Nigerian schools, markets and supermarkets.

Fried Plantain Chips, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 large unripe or semi-ripe plantains (green or slightly yellow skin)
  • Vegetable oil for deep-frying
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground chilli pepper (Cameroon pepper or cayenne)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (optional)

Method

  1. 01

    Peeling and Slicing. Peel the plantains. Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, slice the plantains into very thin rounds, approximately 2 mm thick. Uniform thickness is crucial for even frying.

  2. 02

    Salting. Place the sliced plantain rounds in a bowl of lightly salted water for 5 minutes. This removes excess starch and enhances crispiness. Drain thoroughly and pat completely dry with paper towels. Any moisture will cause the oil to splatter.

  3. 03

    Heating the Oil. Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to moderate-to-hot heat. The oil must be very hot for crispiness.

  4. 04

    Frying. Fry the plantain slices in small batches for 2 to 3 minutes until golden and crispy. Do not overcrowd. The chips will crisp up further as they cool. Monitor carefully as they can burn quickly at this thickness.

  5. 05

    Seasoning. Drain on paper towels immediately. While still hot, sprinkle with salt, ground chilli and garlic powder. Toss gently to coat evenly. Allow to cool completely — they will become even crispier as they cool.

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