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Dodo (Fried Plantain) — Children's After-School Snack

Fried Plantain — Dodo — is the universal Nigerian children's after-school snack. When Nigerian children return home from school, the question is rarely 'what is there to eat?

Dodo (Fried Plantain) — Children's After-School Snack, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big very ripe plantains (yellow skin with lots of black spots — the riper the better for children)
  • Vegetable oil for frying — enough to half-fill a medium pan
  • A tiny pinch of salt — optional

Method

  1. 01

    Selecting the Right Plantain for Children. For children's Dodo, use the ripest plantains available — the skin should be yellow with extensive black patches. The riper the plantain, the sweeter the Dodo. A child will love Dodo made from an almost-entirely-black-skinned plantain far more than one from a barely ripe yellow one.

  2. 02

    Peeling and Slicing. Cut off both ends. Score the skin and peel. Slice the plantains at a diagonal angle into pieces about the width of 2 fingers. Diagonal cuts give a larger golden surface area.

  3. 03

    Frying. Heat oil in a wide pan over medium heat — not too high for children's Dodo, as the high natural sugar content can cause the plantain to burn quickly. Fry in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden-amber. Watch carefully — over-ripe plantains caramelise quickly.

  4. 04

    Draining and Serving. Remove with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately while still warm. Children should eat Dodo while it is warm — it is best in the first 15 minutes after frying.

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