Congolese Plantain Recipe: Ndomba Ndomba

Ndomba is a typical Congolese cuisine cooked using green plantains, which resemble bananas but are less sweet and starchier when ripe. It is also referred to as "Ndomba ya Pense" in some areas. It is a well-liked meal that is frequently served as a side dish or a main course in several Central African nations.

This dish's key component, plantains, has a long tradition in the area. Portuguese explorers are thought to have brought plantains to Africa during the height of transatlantic trade. With time and climatic adaptation, they became an essential component of African cuisine.

Ndomba, with its inventive pairing of flavours and ingredients, is a testament to the creativity of African chefs who adapted to the ingredients at hand. Because of their adaptability and capacity to flourish in tropical conditions, plantains are an important staple crop in many Central African nations. As a result, meals like Ndomba were developed as a way to use this plentiful product to create a tasty and filling dinner.

Preparation Time

45 minutes

Ingredients

4-6 green plantains 

1-2 onions (chopped)

2-3 cloves of garlic (minced)

1-2 tomatoes (chopped)

1-2 cups of palm oil 

1-2 Scotch bonnet peppers or other hot peppers (chopped)

Salt 

Water

Maggi cubes 

Preparation

• Use a knife to peel the green plantains and cut off the ends of each of them.
• Slice the peeled plantains into rounds.
• Heat the palm oil in a large deep pan over medium heat. 
• Carefully add the plantain slices to the hot oil. Fry them in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry the plantains for about 15 minutes.
• Remove the fried plantains and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
• Add the onions, garlic, and hot peppers. Sauté them in the remaining oil until the onions become translucent and the mixture is fragrant.
• Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan and cook them until they soften.
• Season the sauce with salt and Maggi cubes or other seasoning cubes if you're using them. 
• Pour in enough water to create a sauce consistency. Stir well and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes to melt the flavors.
• Gently add the fried plantains to the sauce and stir to coat them with the sauce. Let the mixture simmer for a few more minutes.
• Serve hot!