Interview: Chef Eric Adjepong Brings the Spice in His Cookbook 'Ghana to the World'

Eric Adjepong brings us into his world of flavor and tradition — and showcases how your lineage is an added spice on the plate.

A Chef Reveals Bobby Was Her First Crush on 'Beat Bobby Flay'

All beef is welcome in the "Beat Bobby Flay" arena. Especially those concerning matters of the heart.

Fried Sweet Plantains

Fried sweet plantains are a popular side dish often paired with rice, beans or stew in West African countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, along with Caribbean islands and many Latin countries. As plantains ripen, they soften and turn yellowish to black, and the starches begin to turn to sugar. Many people compare the taste of ripe plantains to sweet potatoes or a cross between a sweet potato and a banana. In picking the best ripe plantain to fry, look for one that’s yellow with spots of black. For ideal texture you want one that’s slightly soft, not firm or mushy to the touch. Sweet plantains are often deep fried, but here they’re shallow fried for a dish with the same texture that uses less oil. A neutral oil like vegetable oil or canola oil is usually used for frying, but you can also use coconut oil if you like its flavor.