Zlebia are fried spirals — a fermented batter of flour, yeast, yogurt, and sometimes a pinch of cardamom, poured in a thin stream through a small-holed vessel directly into hot oil, traced into coiling, lacy rounds that fry quickly into a crisp, golden lattice, then lifted out and submerged immediately in a syrup of honey […]

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Kelewele is ripe plantain — cut into chunks, coated in a paste of ginger, garlic, onion, cayenne or kpakpo shito pepper, cloves or nutmeg, and salt, then fried in groundnut oil until the exterior is deeply caramelized and crunchy and the interior is soft and sweet. The spice paste does not just flavor the surface. […]

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