Fried Chicken Gizzard is my recipe today. Chicken gizzard reminds me of the setting in the olden times especially in a polygamous family In Igbo land.

Whenever the chicken is killed, to ensure it went round, it is always shared.

The gizzard and lap/drumstick is for the man while the waist/hip is for the woman, the chicken head is reserved for the first son while the leg and arms are shared for the kids.

However, that was in the past, when chickens are locally raised. Presently there is the mass importation of frozen foods including chicken/turkey parts to West African Countries and many mouth watery meals are prepared with them. One of those meals is fried chicken gizzards.

Gizdodo is an African simple side dish, basically made of fried chicken gizzards and ripe plantain mixed in Pepper Sauce that is mainly served with rice or Jollof rice. Chicken gizzards are best used for this recipe, although you can substitute it for turkey gizzards. The fried chicken gizzard is party favorite usually served as a meal or accompanied by other dishes or as small chops. In this recipe, fried chicken gizzard and ripe plantains take the center stage and that explains the name isn’t it? This is a food that has the power to make you laugh and weep at the same time because almost every ingredient including with pepper and onions is fried.

Also Read: Monkey Kola And Its Health Benefits

African Fried Chicken Gizzard (Gizdodo) Ingredients

Chicken gizzards

Ripe plantain

Fresh tomato

Habenero pepper

Red bell pepper (tatashe)

1 big onion bulb

Curry & Thyme

stock cubes

Vegetable oil

How to Prepare Fried Chicken Gizzard (Gizdodo) in Nigeria

Wash the gizzards thoroughly with salted or lime or vinegar water removing the yellow lining if there is any in the process. Strain and set aside. Put the washed and strained gizzards in a pot, pour in sufficient water up to the level of the gizzards. Spice up the gizzards with garlic, thyme, half onion bulb, one stock cube, curry, and salt. Since gizzard is a tough meat (a muscle meat to be precise), it is good to season very well and let the stock dry as it cooks the meat. Check to see if the gizzard is soft, you will be astonished at how tasty gizzards can be. If soft, chop into smaller bits. Next, cut the plantains into cubes, and fry in hot vegetable oil until brown. Transfer onto a sieve. Put the gizzards in the same dodo oil until you have brown fried gizzard and also transfer onto a sieve lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Chop the tomatoes and peppers and blend coarsely. Heat up some oil, add chopped onions, pour the blended mix into the pot and fry until the sour taste is gone or when the oil rises to the top of the stew. Then add one stock cube and salt to taste. Simmer for a minute and set aside. Add the fried chicken gizzards to the sauce and simmer for 2 minutes to soak in the sauce. Add the fried plantains and garnish with chopped onions, green, yellow & red peppers. Mix thoroughly and put off the heat.

Voila! Your fried chicken gizzard is ready. Easy and straightforward.