Recipe: Plantain Gingerbread

PLANTAIN GINGERBREAD

1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup water
2 large plantains, peeled, sliced in rounds
2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/3 cup butter
1 cup dark molasses
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with butter.

Combine sugar and vanilla in a heavy saucepan with water. Add plantain slices and cook over moderate heat until plantains are tender. Drain. Then layer slices across the bottom of the baking dish. Set aside.

Combine flour, salt, baking soda and spices in a bowl. In a clean saucepan, bring butter and molasses just to a boil. Begin adding the flour and spice mixture and the milk a bit at a time, alternating them. Beat vigorously. When all the remaining ingredients have been added to the pan, and mixture is smooth, pour over plantains in the baking dish.

Bake 50 minutes to an hour, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Makes 12 servings
Source: Africa News Cookbook-African: Cooking for Western Kitchens