Tatale (Ghana's Plantain Pancakes)
Linda Appiah
Tatale is a golden gateway to African home cooking: easy to make, endlessly customizable to your taste.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 28 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine African
Servings 6
Calories 302 kcal
- 3 Very ripe plantains black and soft
- 1 Small onion finely chopped or blended
- ½ teaspoon grind cloves
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Fresh grated ginger- 1 thump size
- 1 tsp chili powder or 1 fresh habanero pepper adjust to taste
- ¼ Bell pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt Adjust to taste
- 4- 8 tablespoons cornmeal or flour
- ⅓ cup palm oil or any vegetable oil for frying
Mash the Plantains
Peel and mash the ripe plantains in a bowl using a fork or potato masher until smooth but slightly chunky. This is usually done in a local earthenware known as asanka.
Mix in the Aromatics
Blended onions, ginger, habanero pepper, cloves, bell pepper, black pepper, and salt, and add it to the mashed plantain. Stir to combine. If using flour or cornmeal, mix it in now – it helps bind the mixture. Add a little flour at a time if the batter is too thin, until the desired consistency is reached; otherwise, it will not hold its shape when cooked.
Rest the Batter
Let the mixture rest for 10–15 minutes. This allows the flavors to deepen and the texture to thicken slightly.
Fry to Perfection
Heat oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat. Scoop a spoonful of the batter and fry for 2–3 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy at the edges.
Serve Warm
Traditionally served with aboboi (spicy beans), but you can also pair it with dips like avocado salsa, tomato sauce, or even hummus!
Calories: 302kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 200mgPotassium: 544mgFiber: 4gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 1039IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
Keyword African Plantain Fritters, Ghana Tatale, Ghanaian Plantain Pancakes, Tatale