Skip to content

Vegetarian, Africa and overseas

Red red, Ghanaian beans with fried plantains

Red red is a Ghanaian comfort dish, beans simmered in a tomato sauce with red palm oil, served with slices of fried plantain. For 4 people, it takes 50 minutes, rates as easy, and costs €2.10 per serving. The key to success is a well reduced tomato sauce and plantains fried at just the right ripeness.

Tonight, a Ghanaian comfort dish, red red, beans simmered in tomato and red palm oil, with golden slices of fried plantain.

Red red, Ghanaian beans with fried plantains
Total time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€2.10
Calories per person
610 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Red red gets its name from the color of its sauce, deep red from palm oil and crushed tomatoes. The white beans or black eyed peas soak up ginger and chili, giving a dish that can be mild or spicy depending on how much chili you use. The fried plantain slices, sweet and soft inside, balance each bite and create the contrast that makes this dish so appealing.

It's a weeknight dinner that needs little attention once the sauce is simmering, ideal for an evening when you want something hot and filling without spending hours in the kitchen. Kids tend to love the sweetness of the plantains, which tones down the heat of the sauce. Make it on a Sunday too if you want to introduce the whole table to a dish from elsewhere, with rice or sweet potatoes on the side for guests.

The ingredients

4 people

Pantry

  • Canned white beans or black eyed peasoften in the pantry 800 g
  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Red palm oil or peanut oiloften in the pantry 5 tbsp
  • Frying oiloften in the pantry 20 cl
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 2
  • Fresh ginger 20 g
  • Fresh chili 1
  • Ripe plantains 3

The step by step recipe

  1. Sauté a chopped onion, grated ginger, and chili in the red palm oil. 8 min

    Heat the palm oil gently, it browns fast and turns bitter.

  2. Add the tomatoes and let reduce until the sauce thickens. 12 min

    The sauce is ready when the oil rises slightly to the surface.

  3. Drain and rinse the beans, add them to the sauce with a little water and let simmer. 15 min

    Mash a ladleful of beans to help bind the sauce.

  4. Peel the plantains, cut them on a bias, and fry until golden. 10 min

    Only add them once the oil ripples around a wooden stick.

  5. Serve the beans hot with the fried plantains.

    A pinch of salt on the plantains right out of the fryer makes all the difference.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick plantains that are very ripe, with almost black skin, they caramelize better when fried and taste sweeter than green plantains.
  • Taste the tomato sauce before adding the beans, this is the moment to adjust salt and chili without overcooking the beans afterward.
  • Keep the frying oil at medium heat, the plantains turn golden without burning and stay soft inside.

The variations

  • Swap the palm oil for peanut oil alone if you prefer a lighter colored, milder sauce.
  • For a quicker version, use pre-peeled and pre-cut plantains, or pan fry them in a little oil instead of deep frying.
  • For kids sensitive to spice, remove the chili seeds or use only half a chili in the sauce.

What to serve it with

  • Plain white rice
  • Steamed sweet potatoes
  • Fresh ginger juice

Storage

Red red keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. The beans in sauce freeze well for up to 2 months, reheat gently in a saucepan with a splash of water. Fried plantains are best eaten the same day, they lose their crispness when stored.

Questions about this dish

Can you use dried beans instead of canned?

Yes, soak them overnight then cook for about an hour before adding them to the sauce. Use roughly 300 g of dried beans to replace the 800 g canned.

What if the plantains aren't ripe enough?

Green or yellow plantains fry longer and stay firm, without the sweetness you're looking for. It's better to wait until the skin turns mostly black, or cook them more slowly over lower heat.

Can the bean sauce be made ahead?

Yes, it actually tastes better made the day before and reheated gently. Fry the plantains just before serving so they stay crisp.

What does the chili bring to this dish?

The fresh chili gives red red its signature kick, adjust the amount to suit your family's taste. You can remove it near the end of cooking for a milder sauce that keeps its flavor.

How long does it take to make a red red, beans with fried plantains?

Count 50 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in a red red, beans with fried plantains?

About 610 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 red red, beans with fried plantains cost?

About €2.10 per serving, or €8.40 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.

African and overseas cuisines

See all

Chili pepper recipes

See all