Fried Plantain Recipe

If you’re Nigerian or grew up around West African food, then you already know that fried plantain is more than just a side dish, it’s a lifestyle. You can have it with jollof rice, beans, or just on its own with a chilled drink, fried plantain always hits the spot.

In today’s post, I’m sharing my go-to fried plantain recipe that is a simple, classic version made with just three ingredients: ripe plantain, vegetable oil, and salt. But the fun part? I’ll also show you the three different ways I like to cut my plantain so you can switch things up depending on your mood or the meal you’re pairing it with.

You only need three basic ingredients:

Ripe plantains (not too soft, not too hard—just nicely ripe)

Vegetable oil (for deep or shallow frying)

Salt (to taste)

You can get creative with your plantain shapes depending on how you want to serve it. Here are the three ways I love to slice mine:

1. Diced Cubes – Perfect for a plantain stir-fry or as plantain “bites” for kids.

2. Small Circles (Horizontal Slices) – Great as a classic side dish. Just slice straight across to form round coins.

3. Diagonal Slices (Oval Shapes) – These long, stylish pieces are perfect for plating next to jollof rice or fried eggs. They crisp up beautifully too.

Step 1: Peel the ripe plantains and slice them into your preferred shape—either cubes, circles, or diagonal ovals.

Step 2: Place the sliced plantains in a bowl, sprinkle a little salt, and toss gently to coat.

Step 3: Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat. You don’t need too much—just enough to allow the plantains to fry evenly without soaking in oil.

Step 4: Gently place the plantain slices in the hot oil, spacing them out so they don’t stick together.

Step 5: Fry on each side for about 2–3 minutes or until golden brown.

Step 6: Remove from the oil and place on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

And that’s it, your fried plantains are ready to serve!

Fried plantain is super versatile and goes with almost anything! Here are a few Nigerian-style meal pairings you’ll love:

Jollof rice

Beans (Ewa Agoyin or plain porridge beans)

Eggs (scrambled or fried)

Fried rice

White rice with stew

Moi moi

Even as a snack on its own!

Use ripe plantains that are yellow with a few black spots. If they’re too soft, they’ll get mushy. If they’re not ripe enough, they won’t be sweet.

Don’t overcrowd the pan. Give each piece room to fry evenly and get golden brown.

Adjust the salt lightly as too much can overpower the plantain’s natural sweetness.

If you’re watching oil intake, you can shallow fry instead of deep fry, or even use an air fryer.

Yes, you can! Here’s how:

Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a pan or microwave.

Freezer: While fried plantains can be frozen, they’re best enjoyed fresh. If you must freeze, flash-freeze them on a tray before transferring to a freezer bag.

Pro Tip: You can also peel and slice raw plantains in advance and freeze them raw. That way, all you need to do is fry from frozen!

This fried plantain recipe is one of the easiest things to cook, but it brings so much joy to the table. With just three ingredients and a few minutes, you can create a dish that’s sweet, crispy, golden, and absolutely delicious.

Supposedly you’re eating it as a snack or serving it next to your favorite Nigerian meal, fried plantains never disappoint. So go ahead, slice them up, fry them golden, and enjoy!