This week we worked with an ingredient, plantains, that very few of us had cooked with before. Students found the firm, underripe plantains (perfect for the cooking method our omelette recipe required) difficult to peel, but fun to slice and fry in avocado oil. Other ingredients in our omelette included caramelized red onion, tomato, sugar snap peas, and spinach.
We discussed the fact that Nigeria is one of the most populous countries in the world; that because of the legacy of British colonization, English is the official language; and that regardless more than 500 languages are spoken there.
Our burners and lack of ovens didn’t allow us to fully cook the omelettes in one piece, so we ended up making a scramble, which was just as delicious. Students compared the savory flavor of the cooked plantain to roasted potatoes and another rare ingredient, breadfruit!
