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Fried Ripe Plantain Dessert with Honey and Cinnamon

Fried Ripe Plantain with Honey and Cinnamon is a modern Nigerian dessert that takes the beloved everyday Dodo and transforms it into an elegant sweet course through the addition of honey, cinnamon and optional ice cream alongside. The very ripe plantain — with its naturally high sugar content — caramelises magnificently in the frying pan, and the addition of honey and cinnamon during the final moments of cooking creates a beautiful, fragrant glaze.

Fried Ripe Plantain Dessert with Honey and Cinnamon, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big very ripe plantains (skin almost entirely black — maximum natural sweetness)
  • A big cooking spoon of butter — for a richer dessert version
  • 2 big big tablespoons of honey
  • Half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon
  • A pinch of salt — a tiny pinch of salt enhances sweetness dramatically
  • Vanilla ice cream or fresh coconut cream — for serving alongside

Method

  1. 01

    Preparing the Plantains. Peel the very ripe plantains. Slice into thick diagonal rounds — about 2 fingers thick. The very ripe plantain flesh will be deep golden-yellow and very soft. Pat the surface gently dry with a paper towel.

  2. 02

    Frying with Butter. Heat a large, wide pan over medium heat. Add the butter and allow it to foam. Once the foaming subsides, add the plantain slices in a single layer. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deep golden-brown and caramelised. The butter combined with the natural plantain sugars creates a magnificent caramelisation.

  3. 03

    Adding the Honey and Cinnamon Glaze. When the plantains are beautifully golden on both sides, reduce the heat to low. Drizzle the honey directly over the plantains in the pan. Sprinkle the ground cinnamon and the tiny pinch of salt over all. Allow the honey to bubble and caramelise with the plantain for just 1 minute — the pan will be very fragrant.

  4. 04

    Plating the Dessert. Transfer the glazed plantains to a warm serving plate. Pour any caramelised honey-butter from the pan over the top. Serve immediately with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a spoonful of fresh coconut cream alongside.

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