West Africa · Street food
Claclo (Spiced Ripe Plantain Fritters)
Crispy-edged, meltingly soft overripe plantain fritters fragrant with fresh ginger, fiery Scotch bonnet chili, and finely crushed grains of selim.
The story
Originating among the Akan and southern lagoon communities of Côte d'Ivoire, claclo is an indispensable afternoon snack sold by street vendors across Abidjan alongside roasted peanuts. It was created as an ingenious culinary solution to rescue heavily blackened, overripe plantains that had turned too soft for aloco frying. Authentic claclo relies on a delicate binder of rice flour or cassava starch rather than wheat, ensuring a light outer crunch that yields to a custardy, caramelized interior.
Unlock the full recipe
Members get every recipe from all 54 nations, the AI Chef, hands-free Voice Chef and their own cookbook. Seven days free, then £4.99 a month. Cancel any time.
Cook this next
Alloco (Crispy Fried Ripe Plantains with Piment Sauce)
Caramelized, golden fried plantain cubes paired with a smoky, spicy tomato and crushed chili dipping sauce.
Attiéké Poisson Braisé (Cassava Couscous with Grilled Tilapia)
Crisp-skinned charcoal-grilled whole tilapia served over steamed fermented cassava couscous with a vibrant, fiery tomato-onion relish.
Baka (Sweet Millet Porridge)
A silky, tangy fermented millet porridge perfumed with ginger, tamarind, and warm cloves, traditionally served steaming hot at northern dawn.
Bandji (Fresh Wild Oil Palm Wine)
A sweet, cloudy, naturally sparkling wild sap beverage infused with aromatic forest spices and fresh citrus botanicals.