How Versatile Is the Plantain? This Shop Counts the Ways.

Kelewele, a new business in the Dekalb Food Market, has a vegan menu where plantains take top billing.

By Florence Fabricant

In Ghana, spicy fried plantains are called kelewele. And that’s the name that Rachel Laryea, whose family is from Ghana, has given her new food counter in the Dekalb Market Hall. Plantains inform everything from décor to dessert. In addition to spreading the word about the spicy bites, Ms. Laryea created a vegan menu that includes a fried plantain boat topped with Ghanaian bean stew, sweet plantain taco shells with vegetables, and a veggie burger made with sweet plantains and black beans enclosed in a green plantain “bun.” Sweet plantains are the basis for brownies, chocolate chip cookies and soft serve. The sweets, including a plantain dark chocolate brownie mix, are available to ship nationwide.

Kelewele, Dekalb Market Hall, 445 Albee Square (Flatbush Avenue), Downtown Brooklyn, 929-322-3480, kelewelenyc.com.

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