Gonja (Ugandan Fried Plantains)
Gonja is Ugandan street food at its simplest: ripe plantain slices fried in oil until their sugars caramelize at the edges. The salt is what makes it work, setting off the natural sweetness of the fruit. Choose plantains with plenty of black spots on the skin, since those are softest and sweetest once fried. Eat them as a snack with tea or coffee, or put them beside a savory main dish.
Instructions
Peel the ripe plantains and cut them into slices about ½ inch thick, either straight across or on a diagonal. Diagonal cuts give you more surface to brown.
Pour enough vegetable oil into a deep frying pan or pot to cover the slices, and heat it over medium-high heat.
Lower the slices into the hot oil in batches, leaving space between them so the pan does not crowd. Fry for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until they are golden brown and crisp at the edges.
Lift the slices out with a slotted spoon and lay them on paper towels to drain off the excess oil.
Sprinkle with a pinch of salt while they are still hot so it sticks to the surface. Serve warm.
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