How Plantains Fuel Africa’s Take-Out Economy—from Ghana’s Kelewele to Angola’s Markets

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The number of take-out vendors in Africa serving plantains is unknown, but many Africans rely on plantain recipes for their around-the-clock take-out meals.

Working on average 10 hours per day, take-out businesses for many African people become the only way to earn a living. Take-out vending, in particular, represents one of the easiest and most viable jobs, as it requires little start-up capital. Limited access to credit is a major barrier to the growth of take-out enterprises.
Discover how African street food recipes connect families and travelers through shared flavors.

Food vendors need a license to legally trade in many places in Africa. However, neither at the national nor local level is there a framework policy specifically regulating take-out vending.

Take-out is any ready-to-eat food or beverage sold and sometimes prepared in outdoor public spaces on streets, squares, parks, and open-air markets by vendors or cooks either on foot or in vans, carts, or stalls. Many people eat take-out on average 6–7 times a week, especially students and unmarried people.
African beverages like homemade beer or palm wine often accompany popular street meals.

The availability and accessibility of take-outs over space and time in large urban areas mean consumers can always find one within reasonable distance.

Most common African take-outs

The most common take-outs sold in Africa are fried foods—fried fish and chicken, fried bean cakes, meat pies, fried yam, bread and sausages, bread and eggs, and kebabs made with meat or liver. Sauce and stew-based foods are also popular.
Discover more fried foods in African cuisine and their regional variations.

Other common foods sold are rice, boiled rice dumplings, roasted plantains and corn, and porridge.
Learn how traditional plantain dishes like fufu and kelewele are staples across West Africa.

Two African countries are major exporters of plantains—Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Angola is Africa’s largest plantain and banana producer and ranks seventh globally. The DRC naturally grows nearly 100 types of plantains, making it the most diverse plantain-growing region in the world.

Kelewele (pronounced *kelli-welli*) is one of Ghana’s most popular take-out snacks sold by street hawkers. Easy to make, kelewele are plantain cubes, sprinkled with ginger, hot pepper, and fried in palm oil.
Taste more Ghanaian street foods and snacks that pair perfectly with kelewele.

Kelewele vendors sometimes serve this spicy snack with rice and stew, peanuts, or alone as dessert or breakfast.

Best Plantain Takeout Snack

Ingredients

• 3 yellow plantains, peeled and diced
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Palm oil for frying

Directions

In a frying pan with just enough oil to allow plantains to float, heat oil over medium-high heat. Fry plantains until golden brown on both sides. Drain on absorbent paper, sprinkle with spices, and serve.