Chewi Kong with Spiced Peanut Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 ripe plantains 4 ripe plantains
• 1 onion, finely chopped 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt, to taste Salt, to taste
• Vegetable oil, for frying Vegetable oil, for frying
• For the spiced peanut sauce: For the spiced peanut sauce:
• 1 cup roasted peanuts 1 cup roasted peanuts
• 2 cloves of garlic 2 cloves of garlic
• 1-inch piece of ginger 1-inch piece of ginger
• 2 red chili peppers 2 red chili peppers
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Salt, to taste Salt, to taste
• Water, as needed Water, as needed

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 320 kcal / 1340 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 18g, 3g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 38g, 18g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 0.8g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Peel the plantains and cut them into chunks. Place them in a large bowl and mash them with a fork until smooth.
2. 2.
   Add the chopped onion, minced garlic, ground ginger, paprika, dried thyme, and salt to the mashed plantains. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.
3. 3.
   Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
4. 4.
   Take a small portion of the plantain mixture and shape it into a small fritter. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
5. 5.
   Carefully place the fritters in the hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and drain on a paper towel to remove excess oil.
6. 6.
   To prepare the spiced peanut sauce, place the roasted peanuts, garlic, ginger, red chili peppers, ground cumin, ground coriander, tomato paste, vegetable oil, and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding water as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
7. 7.
   Serve the Chewi Kong fritters with the spiced peanut sauce on the side.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Plantains — Make sure to use ripe plantains for this recipe as they provide a sweeter taste and softer texture compared to unripe ones.
• Roasted peanuts — If you can't find roasted peanuts, you can roast raw peanuts in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes until they turn golden brown.

Tips & Tricks

• For a spicier sauce, add more red chili peppers or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• Serve Chewi Kong as an appetizer or as a main course with a side of steamed vegetables or rice.
• You can make the fritters in advance and reheat them in the oven before serving to maintain their crispiness.
• If you prefer a smoother texture for the spiced peanut sauce, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve after blending.
• Experiment with different spices and herbs in the fritter mixture to customize the flavors to your liking.

Serving advice

Serve the Chewi Kong fritters hot with the spiced peanut sauce on the side. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves for added freshness and color.

Presentation advice

Arrange the golden fritters on a platter and place a small bowl of the spiced peanut sauce in the center. Sprinkle some chopped peanuts and a pinch of paprika over the sauce for an attractive presentation.