Vegan Plantain Porridge (Nigerian – Inspired)

Many West African dishes really centre on the same ingredients. With some tomatoes, onion, ginger, palm oil and plantains, one can make a variety of dishes for breakfast lunch and dinner. This recipe is one of them. Plantain porridge is a Nigerian classic. It is spicy, warm, flavourful and a perfect mix of sweet and savory. In this recipe, I will be providing a super easy plantain porridge recipe that is not only easy and flavourful but also plant-based friendly. If you like sweet and savoury food this is the perfect recipe for you.

What is Plantain Porridge

Plantain porridge is not what you thing. For many porridge might been something like oatmeal or a hot grain that is liquidy with some fruit, sugar or nuts on top. I honestly do not know how porridge came about with this dish but it does have a consistency like porridge (i guess) but it is not mushy. It also has different textures that can make the eating experience much more pleasurable. This plantain porridge is influenced heavily by Nigerian based plantain porridges. in Ghana, we have a very similar dish called mpontopoto but the process is slightly different. Just another example of how similar, yet different, food is across West Africa.

What ingredient will you need

• Red Palm Oil: this oil gives a nice red colour and it bring a really nice buttery flavour. If you want to learn more about why I include palm oil in my diet, please refer to this post (Palm Oil in West African Diet)
• Aromatics: Onion, Ginger, Garlic, Red Bell pepper and Scotch bonnet pepper are the base for the sauce the plantains are cooked in
• Mushrooms: I usually use a mix of dry and fresh mushrooms because of different textures and flavours they use
• Tofu: This adds more plant-based protein
• Tomatoes:  This is essential for the stew. I mean it is a tomato based recipe so of course
• Plantain: This is an essential, it is called plantain porridge. For this, I will suggest ripe plantain; plantain with black spots. If you want to learn more about buying and storing plantains, please check out this blog post (Plantain Guide).
• Spices: Dawa dawa is important but not essential. If you want to purchase dawa dawa you can find it at any local West African store or online through this affiliated link (Click Here )Other spices like onion powder, garlic powder , coriander seeds, cumin seeds and curry powder add savouriness and flavour

How to make plantain porridge

• Sauté onions with oil and dried mushrooms
• Blend the aromatics and tomatoes to make the stew
• Cook down the stew with all the fix-ins to absorb flavour
• Add the chopped plantains and cook till soft
• Add greens and serve

FAQs

• Can I use a different oil?
  • Yes you can use any vegetable oil
• Where can I purchase some of the specific spices
  • You can use this affiliate link to purchase dawa dawa or grains of selim. They are optional but to purchase Click here
• What type of plantain should I use
  • Please refer to my plantain guide where you will find in-depth information about plantains (where to purchase, storing and finding the right type) Click here

Print Recipe

Vegan Plantain Porridge

Nigerian

By Afia – Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes – Cooking Time: 30 minutes – Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 TBSP of red palm oil
• 1 cup dried mushrooms (I used shiitake)
• 2 large king oyster mushrooms chopped ***
• 4 small tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (omit for non-spicy flavour)
• 1 large onion (1/2 finely diced, 1/2 roughly chopped)
• 1 thumb of ginger
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1.5 tsp of onion and garlic powder
• 2 tsp of curry powder
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 tsp veggie bouillon
• 3 grains of selim (optional)
• 1/2 tsp dawa dawa (optional)
• salt
• 1/2 block of extra firm tofu cut into small cubes (175g of tofu)
• 2 medium ripe plantains (yellow with black spots) chopped into small cubes
• 2 large handfuls of spinach

Instructions

1

In a blender, blend the roughly chopped onion, garlic, tomatoes, scotch bonnet pepper and red bell pepper with just enough water to blend the mixture (~1/4 cups of water) till smooth.

2

In a pot at medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onions and dried mushrooms in the red palm oil till the onions are soft

3

When the onions are soft, add the blended mixture to the pot and let it come to a boil

4

Once the sauce come to a boil, add the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the plantain and spinach

5

Cover the pot, and cook at medium heat for 15 minutes for all the flavours to meld

6

After 15 minutes, add the chopped plantains, cover the pot and let the porridge simmer at medium-low heat till the plantains are cooked through and soft. This should take an additional 10 minutes at medium to low heat.

7

Mix in the handful of spinach and turn off the heat.

8

Serve hot

Notes

*** you can use any type of mushrooms you want. King oyster is a lot more sturdy and has great flavour

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