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Meat, Africa and overseas

Gizdodo (Nigerian gizzard and plantain stew)

Gizdodo is a Nigerian dish that combines tender chicken gizzards, fried ripe plantains, and a spicy tomato pepper sauce. It serves 4, takes 55 minutes, is rated easy, and costs about €2.60 per person. The key to success is simmering the gizzards slowly in water until they turn tender before they join the sauce.

Tonight, we're tasting Nigeria with a gizdodo, tender chicken gizzards and fried plantains in a spicy tomato pepper sauce.

Gizdodo (Nigerian gizzard and plantain stew)
Total time
55 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.60
Calories per person
680 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Gizdodo plays on two textures that work well together. On one side, gizzards that start out firm and become tender after a long simmer in water. On the other, fried plantains, sweet and slightly crisp at the edges. The tomato pepper sauce, sharpened with chili, coats everything without drowning out any single ingredient.

This is a weeknight dinner that takes a bit longer than usual, best made when you have time to let the gizzards simmer undisturbed. Kids generally love the sweet plantains, and you can keep the chili on the side for younger eaters. Mon Chou suggests this recipe when you want to step away from the usual rotation without making the cooking complicated.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Chicken gizzards 600 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Ripe plantains 3
  • Red bell peppers 3
  • Tomatoes 3
  • Onion 2
  • Chili pepper 1

Pantry

  • Thymeoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 8 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the gizzards in salted water with one onion and the thyme until tender, then drain them. 40 min

    Keep the cooking water to thin the sauce later, it's full of flavor.

  2. Cut the plantains into cubes and fry them in hot oil until golden. 10 min

    Drain them on paper towels, they stay crisp that way.

  3. Blend the seeded peppers, tomatoes, the other onion and the chili, then reduce this sauce in three tablespoons of oil. 15 min

    Let the sauce cook until it turns thick and glossy.

  4. Add the gizzards to the sauce, season with salt and pepper, and let simmer a few minutes. 8 min

    Taste and adjust the chili, it gets hotter as it cooks.

  5. Add the fried plantains just before serving and fold them in gently.

    Add them at the very last moment, they soften in the sauce otherwise.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick plantains that are very ripe, almost black on the outside, they turn sweeter and softer once fried.
  • Seed the peppers and chili thoroughly if you want a mild heat, the seeds hold most of the spice.
  • Blend the sauce until smooth so it coats the gizzards and plantains evenly without stray chunks.

The variations

  • Swap fresh chili for chili powder if that's what you have, adding it gradually while tasting.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the gizzards with quartered button mushrooms sauteed until golden.
  • To save time, buy pre-fried or frozen plantain pieces and focus your effort on the sauce and gizzards.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Fresh ginger juice
  • Crunchy cucumber salad

Storage

Gizdodo keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well, but without the plantains, which you should add fresh when reheating. Warm the sauce and gizzards gently in a pan, then stir in freshly fried plantains at the end.

Questions about this dish

Can I use a different cut instead of chicken gizzards?

You can use chicken pieces instead, but the cooking time will be shorter and the texture quite different. Gizzards give gizdodo its signature tender chew, which is hard to replicate with another cut.

How do you know if plantains are ripe enough?

Look for plantains with black or heavily spotted skin, they'll be sweet and fry up easily. Plantains that are still green or yellow stay firm and bland once cooked.

Can gizdodo be made ahead of time?

You can cook the gizzards and prepare the sauce a day ahead, then combine them the next day. Fry the plantains at the last minute so they keep their texture.

Is this dish very spicy?

The heat depends entirely on how much chili you add. Start with half the amount listed, taste, then adjust toward the end of cooking.

How long does it take to make a gizdodo?

Count 55 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a gizdodo?

About 680 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a gizdodo cost?

About €2.60 per serving, or €10.40 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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