Plantains are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin: the horn plantain and the French plantain. Both types grow in India, Africa, Egypt, and tropical America. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
What are plantains called in Africa?
It is called alloco in Côte d’Ivoire and dodo in Western Nigeria, otherwise known as simply fried plantain in other parts of Nigeria. Kelewele is a fried spicy plantain or can be fried as a side dish for Red Red (African stewed black-eyed peas) and fish stew in Ghana.
When did plantains come to Africa?
Plantains may have been grown in eastern Africa as early as 3000 BCE, and in Madagascar by 1000 BCE. The plantain had certainly reached the African continent between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
Do African Americans eat plantains?
Plantain is a major food staple in Africa, and West Africa is one of the major plantain-producing regions of the world, accounting for approximately 32% of worldwide production. Plantains are the fruit of the Musa Paradisiaca, a type of banana plant.
How did plantain get to Africa?
Plantain found its way into Madagascar from Malaysia and India through trading Asian merchants and by Arabs during the Trans-Saharan trade boom.
Are plantains healthy?
Cooked plantains are nutritionally very similar to a potato, calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They’re a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium.
Are plantains Mexican?
Mexican Kitchen
Although grown most frequently in the tropical coastal areas of the country, plantains are found in markets all over Mexico, where they are called plátano macho and look like bananas on growth hormones, ranging in color from bright green and unripe to nearly black and looking overripe.
What country eats the most plantains?
The countries with the highest volumes of plantain consumption in 2018 were Democratic Republic of the Congo (5.5M tonnes), Cameroon (4.8M tonnes) and Ghana (4.1M tonnes), together comprising 59% of total consumption.
Which country consumes the most plantains?
Global Plantains Consumption
The highest levels of plantain per capita consumption was registered in Cameroon (X kg/year), followed by Ghana (X kg/year), Uganda (X kg/year), Colombia (X kg/year) and Nigeria (X kg/year), while the average per capita consumption of plantain was estimated at X kg/year in 2015.
Is plantain a fruit or vegetable?
Fruit
What do plantains taste like?
Ripe plantains are sweet like a banana, without the banana flavor. They can be eaten raw but are best when fried. The edges caramelize and become crispy like the edges of pancakes cooked in butter.
Do Peruvians eat plantains?
Plantain (or ‘plátano’ in Spanish) is popular in Peruvian food, and across Latin America in general. It’s a typical side dish in the traditional Latin American meal: white rice, beef or chicken, and beans.
Why are plantains so popular?
Plantains are tasty, especially the yellow ones. This is because they are moderately high in fructose content. But unlike it’s cousin banana, plantain is rich in starch which makes it a popular staple dish in Africa. … Green unripe plantains are quite tasty, if prepared as porridge or fried into chips.
What animals eat plantains?
Predators that hunt turacos and plantain eaters include eagles and chimpanzees.
What food group is plantain?
‘ Now you know that plantains belong to the starchy fruit classification. These raw fruits cannot boast any special flavor, but they have soft texture and sweet taste when ripe. Besides, ripe plantain can be eaten raw.