It’s that time of year when we realize that we have very little time to lose a few pounds before the holidays. Most of us immediately think that we need to stop eating our favorite foods, but eating better doesn’t have to be a miserable experience.
What I like the most about the holidays is that wherever I go, there is typical latin food. Although rice and stewed beans are part of the daily diet of many puertorricans, at least in my house, it is not. The truth is that I can’t prepare a good pot of stewed beans even if I tried. That’s the reason I learned to prepare curries and bean soups. 
I want to share a recipe I learned from a blog about Dominican food. These plump little balls of yellow sweetness are delicious, you’ll want to eat them every day. The crust is crisp, while inside is creamy and sweet.
Ripe Plantains (or plantains in general) are an essential part of Caribbean cuisine. You can’t go to a restaurant in the islands without finding Amarillitos Fritos (Fried Ripe plantains) as a side dish. This recipe tries to mimic the flavors, but the Rellenitos are oven baked instead of fried.
They are perfect to serve as an appetizer. I prefer to serve them at lunch with a simple vegetable salad and a tangy vinaigrette. Another way to prepare them is by rolling the little balls in Parmesan cheese before baking.
They can be stuffed with vegetables, ground beef or guava paste. This time, I wanted to use cheese. Cheddar or mozzarella are ideal, I used Havarti (a Danish cheese) because of its buttery taste and soft texture.
Stuffed Ripe Plantains (Rellenitos de Plátano Maduro)
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
Description
These oven-baked Rellenitos de Plátano Maduro are deliciously sweet and creamy inside with a crisp crust, perfect as an appetizer or a light lunch.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe plantains
- 3 ounces (85g) of cheese (Mozzarella, Cheddar, or Havarti)
- Water (for boiling)
- Salt to taste
- Optional: Parmesan cheese for rolling
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Peel the plantains and cut each into two pieces.
- Boil the plantain pieces in salted water for about 5 minutes until they are just softened. Do not overcook.
- Remove the plantains from the water and let them cool for about 5 minutes.
- Mash the plantains, leaving a few lumps for texture.
- Divide the mashed plantain into small portions and flatten each portion in your hand.
- Place a small piece of cheese in the center of each flattened plantain portion.
- Carefully fold the plantain around the cheese, forming a ball.
- If desired, roll each ball in Parmesan cheese for an extra crispy crust.
- Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and crisp.
- Serve warm, ideally with a simple vegetable salad and tangy vinaigrette.
Notes
For a buttery taste, use Havarti cheese. Rolling the balls in Parmesan before baking adds a crispy texture. Serve with a simple vegetable salad and tangy vinaigrette for a complete meal. These can also be stuffed with vegetables, ground beef, or guava paste for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 4
- Cholesterol: 10
Can these also be fried will be making them stuffed with hamburger…..
I fried mine. Delicious….only issue is I feel something needs to be added to bind them better.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe ! I am excited to try it out! Then I will be making it for 30 people ! It’s a cousins gathering ! We’re all puertoricans nuyorkricans!!! God bless and good luck with your future!
OMG…these turned out fabulous …I did some with refried beans and cheese, and some with vegetablesand cheese…they were delicious…thank you for this recipe…it is definitely a keeper
Omg my grandmother used to make these! Our family is Puerto Rican though not Dominican. She stuffed then with ground meat and fried them instead of baking. I also make them. My family loves them. I think I will try baking them since I make A lot of them for my family. Thanks for the tip!
So, what I thought were organic bananas wound up being plantains. Glad I made it to this site. Just made the recipe today! I used Pepper Jack as my cheese filling. Looks really good. I hope my husband likes them! Super easy to make!
Plantains are a favorite of my family’s. I have never seen a recipe that didn’t include frying. This recipe looks lovely.
These look delicious !
This is a great looking recipe – one for the weekend’s menu! THanks!