Scrolling through Pinterest one day, I saw a video of someone making potato balls. A thought crossed my mind immediately and it was a thought to make plantain balls instead. This means that I would use the same recipe as the potato balls, but I will have to substitute the potatoes for plantains. I would also have to tweak it to have a stable recipe. The reason for this is because the texture of potatoes and plantains are not the same. While both contain starch, the starch content in plantain is only higher when unripe but not in comparison to potatoes. Also as plantains ripen, the starch content decreases, and it becomes sweeter as the starch converts to sugars. People use the ripe/overripe plantains to cook beans, yam porridge etc. and the taste is spot on because the ripe/overripe plantains automatically sweetens the whole dish.
I love plantains, but when it becomes soft, I do not enjoy it anymore. So the best option would be to use the plantains for something else than to throw it away. If you happen to have plantains that have stayed a while and have turned black, do not throw it away please. Use it to make these plantain balls that we will be talking about shortly.
The first time I made plantain balls, I did not know what to expect. I have never had it before neither have I made it before. I already concluded that if it was good, it will be a constant snack for me. While if it was bad, I will console myself that the plantain was spoilt already (Lol). When I tried it, I was blown by the taste. It was too good. The plantain blended perfectly with every ingredient used and it pleased my taste buds. Guess what? Presently, I intentionally leave my plantains to become overripe so I can use them to make this snack.
In my search relating to plantain balls on the internet, I found out that there is a snack called ‘mosa’ that is added to small chops platters and it is made from plantain. However, this plantain balls is similar to the mosa, but the ingredients differ a bit. What is fascinating about this is that after I made it, I browsed about it and saw that it is a thing. People make plantain balls. They also tweak theirs to be unique to them. Some add fish to it, some add meat as well.
If you love plantains, you are going to love making and eating these plantain balls. It is easy to make, nothing is stressful about it and you will have yourself a delicious snack. Let us get into it.
To make this we will need;
2 overripe plantains, small onion, 3 pieces of habanero, 1 small green bell pepper, a piece of garlic, 1 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 1 cube of Knorr (for taste).
Directions:
1) Cut onions, fresh pepper, green bell pepper and garlic in small bits.
2) Mash the plantains using a fork.
3) Add the cut ingredients into the mashed plantains and mix.
4) Add flour and baking powder and mix.
5) Heat up oil in a pan.
6) Scoop the batter into the oil and deep fry like you would puff puff.
7) While scooping, don’t forget to shape them like balls so you will have the round shape.
8) Remove from oil once it’s golden brown and put in a sieve to drain oil and it is ready to be consumed.
NB – the oil should not be too hot if not the plantain balls will fry on the outside but the inside will not be done.
This is best paired with pepper sauce, the combination hits so hard. If you would love to watch how I made mine, you can check it out on our Instagram page @thecravefactory.ng