Ghanaian classic red red recipe (fried plantain with beans stew)
My parents were in Upper West Region last month and guess what they brought home.
Beans, lots of beans (these beans are the best I have ever had), smoked guinea fowl, shea butter, cow feet, groundnut paste (peanut butter), a whole lot, I could start a groundnut soup factory, let me know if you interested.
Let me clarify today’s post for you my lovely readers who have not heard of red red. Red red is simply fried plantains with beans stew. I am guessing the reason for the name is due to the fact that the beans stew is made with palm oil and the plantains are also fried with palm oil. Thus, red red leaves a red hue on plates when served. This is technically not a guess right.
This meal is a regular one on most Ghanaian menus. On the streets, homes, boarding schools except for the plantains plus it is filling. The combination of palm oil, onions and tomatoes with the cow-pea (black-eyed beans) is great and fantastic. I hope you give this a try, let me know what you think.
On the Side : I just had my first guinea fowl and it got me wondering what I had been eating all these years. Take me to Upper East region please.
For more Ghanaian recipes, head over here. In the meantime, I have compiled an encyclopedia list of Ghanaian foods which you can read for leisure here.
Thank you for visiting biscuitsandladles.
- 2 cups black-eyed pea or beans soaked over night
- 4 medium size tomatoes
- 2 medium size onion
- Pepper like scotch bonnet or red chilli as required
- 1/2cup palm oil
- Momoni optional
- 1 tablespoon grounded shrimp optional
- 4- 6 plantains
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Cook the soaked beans till tender, set aside. Blend one onion, tomatoes and pepper together and set aside. Slice the other onion and set aside. Remove the peels from plantains and season with salt if you like, set aside.
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Put palm oil in a saucepan, add half of the sliced onions and momoni if using. Cook till tender and the momoni melts in the oil. Add the blended onions, tomatoes and pepper. Add about 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook till thickened. Add grounded shrimp if using and the cooked beans.
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Stir in the remaining onions and a little water from the beans if stew is too thick. Taste and adjust for salt.
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When ready to eat, fry plantains with any oil of choice. I do not like plantains fried in palm oil and would not recommend it. Serve beans with plantains.
Do not have momoni or shrimp, omit it. Not much difference is noticed without momoni but shrimp adds some sought of flavour. You can equally make it vegetarian by omitting these two ingredients. Tastes great all the same.
Step up your red red by serving the beans stew with
Kelewele (spicy fried plantains)
Want some recipes using black eyed beans?
or this Beans stew
