Sweet Plantain Arepas with Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 ripe plantains (peeled and cut into pieces)
• 0.5 tbsp salt (for the boiling water)
• water (enough to cover the plantains)
• 1 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp cornmeal (precooked type for arepas)
• 1 egg
• 100 g cheese (shredded, divided into two parts)

Steps

1. 1

   Peel the two ripe plantains and cut them into medium-sized pieces.

2. 2

   Place the plantain pieces in a pot and add enough water to cover them.

3. 3

   Add half a tablespoon of salt to the water, cover the pot, and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.

4. 4

   Remove the plantains from the pot, draining the water, and place them in a bowl.

5. 5

   Add one tablespoon of butter to the hot plantains and mash them very well with a potato masher until you get a smooth puree.

6. 6

   Add three tablespoons of cornmeal and one egg to the mixture.

7. 7

   Knead very well with your hands until you obtain a compact and homogeneous dough.

8. 8

   Shred the 100 grams of cheese. Incorporate half of the shredded cheese into the dough and knead a bit more to distribute it evenly.

9. 9

   Form balls with the dough of your preferred size (this will yield approximately 9 units).

10. 10

    To shape the arepas, place a ball of dough between two pieces of clean plastic bag and flatten with a cutting board.

11. 11

    Use a round bowl or a cutter to mold the edges so the arepa is perfectly circular.

12. 12

    Heat a skillet and cook the arepas on both sides for about 5 minutes in total until they are golden brown.

13. 13

    Slice each arepa open halfway with a knife and fill it with the remaining shredded cheese you set aside.

14. 14

    Return the filled arepas to the skillet for a few moments until the cheese is completely melted.

Notes

You can use any cheese that melts well, such as mozzarella or queso costeño if you prefer a saltier touch. Using plastic bags makes the shaping process much easier without the dough sticking.

Nutrition per serving

• arepas
• sweet plantain
• breakfast
• dinner
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
• latin cuisine