Where does Red Red come from?

Red Red — country of origin: Ghana.

What is Red Red made of?

Black-eyed pea, red palm oil, tomato, onion, chilli, plantain.

How do you pronounce Red Red?

Red Red (English, Ghana) is pronounced /rɛd rɛd/.

Red Red

Pronunciation (IPA) /rɛd rɛd/

A Ghanaian stew of black-eyed peas simmered in red palm oil with tomato, onion and chilli, served with fried plantain.

Also known as: Red-red

Allergens & declarations

The classic recipe carries none of the 14 EU allergens.

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Red red is a Ghanaian bean stew, cooked in red palm oil with tomato, onion and chilli, and served with fried plantain. Black-eyed peas form the base of the dish, and the name refers to its colour, which comes from the palm oil and tomato. It is a everyday meal in Ghana, and the same stew can be made at home or sold by cooks who serve it with plantain.

What it really is

Black-eyed peas are soaked, boiled until soft, and then simmered in a sauce of red palm oil, onion, tomato and chilli until the sauce thickens and clings to the beans. Palm oil gives the stew its flavour and colour, so it is central to the dish rather than a fat that can be swapped without changing it. The plantain is peeled, sliced and fried until golden at the edges, and it is served as a separate element.

The stew is the dish, and the plantain is a side. The two are eaten together, but the beans are the main ingredient.

How it's served

Hot, with the beans in their red sauce spooned into a bowl or onto a plate.
Fried plantain set alongside, not mixed into the stew.
Usually as a main course for one person.

Name the beans as black-eyed peas, and state the oil used: red palm oil.
Say whether the plantain is ripe, since guests notice the difference in sweetness.
The classic version contains no common allergen, but mark any fish, shrimp or egg you add to the stew, and confirm the oil used for frying the plantain.
Describe the heat level, since chilli strength varies from kitchen to kitchen.

Typical ingredients

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Frequently asked questions

What is Red Red?: A Ghanaian stew of black-eyed peas simmered in red palm oil with tomato, onion and chilli, served with fried plantain.
Where does Red Red come from?: Red Red — country of origin: Ghana.
What is Red Red made of?: Black-eyed pea, red palm oil, tomato, onion, chilli, plantain.
Which allergens does Red Red contain?: The classic recipe carries none of the 14 EU allergens.
What is Red Red also known as?: Red-red.
How do you pronounce Red Red?: Red Red (English, Ghana) is pronounced /rɛd rɛd/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.