Central Africa · Dessert
Klako (Spiced Ripe Plantain Fritters)
Golden, crackling fritters of overripe sweet plantain scented with fiery ginger, cayenne, and fragrant nutmeg.
The story
In the bustling open-air markets of Libreville such as Mont-Bouët and Nkembo, Klako is the definitive late-afternoon snack eaten hot from paper cones by workers and schoolchildren. Derived from coastal cross-pollination across the Bight of Biafra, the Gabonese preparation is distinguished by using deeply ripened plantains whose skins have turned entirely black, guaranteeing maximum natural sugar content. A precise proportion of rice flour or cassava starch is incorporated into the batter to build a crisp outer shell that prevents the fritters from collapsing into an oily mass during high-heat frying.
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