Ripe Plantain Puff Puff

Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: African, Nigerian

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 6

Rise Time: 1

Total Time: 1 11

Servings: puff puff

Calories: 120kcal

Author: Jazzmine Woodard

Easy West African style fried yeast donuts with hints of sugar and spice

Print Recipe

Equipment

1 kitchen spoon or silicone spatula
2 mixing bowls
1 Blender or food processor
1 fry pan
1 food thermometer
1 slotted spoon or tongs

Ingredients

2 teaspoons instant yeast
¾ cup warm water divided
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon coconut sugar or granulated sugar
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 overripe plantains
32 ounces grape seed oil

Instructions

Line a dish with paper towel and set aside. Add instant yeast to ½ cup warm water and set aside.
Whisk together flour, coconut sugar, fine sea salt, and nutmeg.
Peel plantains and add to blender then pulse until a smooth puree forms. Add remaining ¼ cup warm water, if needed, to thin it out.
Pour plantain puree into yeast and water mixture and stir until just combined.
Add flour mixture to plantain and yeast mixture about ½ cup at a time, stirring well between each addition, to form a sticky dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for about one hour or until the dough doubles in size.
Fill saucepan about three inches deep with grape seed oil and heat to 350 degrees farenheit over medium flame. The surface of the oil should have a shimmering appearance like it's moving slightly.
Press air out of puff puff dough then scoop out about ¼ cup of batter and gently drop into the heated oil. Add three to four more balls into the oil and fry until golden brown (about three minutes per side).
Use a slotted spoon or tongs to transfer the fried puff puff from the pan to the paper towel lined dish to absorb excess oil. Repeat frying process until all dough is used.

Notes

Preparation

Puff puff is really the best on the first day but can be kept overnight at room temperature and reheated the next day.

With time, you can master scooping puff puff dough with your hands and squeezing out perfectly round balls but it's perfectly find to scoop with a spoon when first starting out!

Troubleshooting

The pureed plantain should have the consistency of a thick juice (like mango juice) or a thin syrup. Add a splash of water to the puree to thin it out, if needed.

For an even fry, don't overcrowd the frying pan as this will lower the heat and can prevent the puff puff from browning evenly and make it soggy.

Storage

Store fried puff puff in an airtight container in the refrigerator for five to seven days.

To freeze puff puff, spread them out on a parchment lined pan and stick in the freezer for about three hours or until frozen through. This keeps them from sticking together in a big block. Transfer to an airtight container or zipper seal bag and store in freezer for up to one month.

Nutrition