What is Alloco?
Alloco is a traditional West and Central African dish made from fried plantain bananas. This inexpensive, beloved street food is particularly popular in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and across West Africa, where it’s typically served alongside grilled or fried fish.
The bananas are cooked in palm oil, groundnut oil or rapeseed oil. The dish goes by different names depending on the country and how the bananas are sliced.
This is a wonderfully simple side dish that will instantly transport you to the streets of Abidjan! The trickiest part is finding plantain bananas — but they’re increasingly available in larger supermarkets and African food stores.
Tips for the best Alloco
- The riper, the better: The blackest, most overripe plantains give the most tender, sweet alloco.
- Season before frying: Sprinkle salt, pepper, ginger or chilli powder over the slices before they go in the oil.
- A splash of water: Sprinkle a little water over the banana slices just before frying — it makes them even more flavourful and helps caramelise the edges beautifully.
Ingredients
- Ripe plantain bananas
- Butter or groundnut (peanut) oil
- Salt
Instructions
- Peel the plantains and slice them diagonally or into rounds.
- Season generously with salt (and chilli or ginger if desired).
- Heat the oil or butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Fry the plantain slices for 3–4 minutes on each side until golden and caramelised.
- Drain on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
- Serve immediately as a side dish, snack or with grilled fish.
Bon appétit! 🌿🇨🇮
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