Kpekere
I was at a friend’s birthday party the other day and as I walked in I sighted a bowl full of freshly-fried Kpekere (plantain crisps). Before I could finish the usual peck on two sides of the cheek, something we Lagos people have gotten to do quite frequently and turned around, I found the bowl of Kpekere empty. This is what happens when you have plantain crisps as one of the welcome snacks at a party.
You cannot miss the sight of plantain chips if you travel by road particularly around the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Approaching a toll gate the site is that of street hawkers swarming around you car windows trying to sell plantain chips. Note that I did not say plantain crisps. The hawkers will knock on your window or make this sound that is a cross between a kiss and the sucking of periwinkle in Afang soup. These street hawkers are more prominent around the Benin area.
Talking about Benin where I started my primary school, Kpekere was one of my childhood craving. Lunch money was mostly spent on this and the mama kpekere was too glad to return to the school every afternoon to exchange her goods for our money. Some of the kids did go beyond Kpekere but we all knew that for those that ventured into buying sweets, the money was stolen. Sometimes I wonder if stealing is a natural trait or it is learnt.
In my judgement Benin tops the list in areas where the best Kpekere can be found. By the way it used to be fried with palm oil. The palm oil added its own taste, but left tell tail signs as the oil used to find its way onto our exercise books. Whilst plantain chips can be made from unripe and half ripe plantains, the crisp has to be made from unripe plantain.
Plantain crisp is my guilt free snack as they are so light in the mouth that you will not feel that you’ve eaten something. You are simply guided by the crunchy sound in your mouth. When the sound of crunching seizes you simply guide your hands towards the bowl. 🙂
For that next party why not try the crisp and watch your guest clean out the bowl and ask for more. Enjoy the crunch!
How to make Kpekere
Unripe plantain
Oil for frying
Salt to taste
Method
1. Wash and peel the plantain. Do not wash after peeling
2. Using a vegetable peeler, slice the plantain from top to bottom to get long slices.
3. Heat the oil and fry the crisps. Sprinkle with salt.
4. If you are avoiding salt, serve cold so that the crisps will not get soggy. Salt will absorb moisture.
Lovely post and recipe. I totally agree with you on Benin having the best kpekere. I was there recently and bought one pack. After eating I just kept wishing I had bought more!! I will have to try this recipe and see if I can recreate the magic!