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5 from 12 votes
Cheese and Ripe Plantain Balls [Recipe + Video] Bolitas de Plátano Maduro
These cheese and ripe plantain balls combine soft mashed ripe plantains with mozzarella cheese centers and are coated in grated Parmesan or Pecorino. After shaping and freezing, they bake to a golden exterior while the cheese inside melts tenderly. The contrast of sweet plantain and savory cheese creates a unique snack or appetizer with a crispy crust and creamy filling.
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
6
servings (18 balls ttl)
Calories:
292 kcal
Course:
Appetizer, Snacks
Cuisine:
Caribbean, Dominican
Ingredients
- 3 plantain (ripe, yellow) (see notes)
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil for greasing hands
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese diced [0.34 kg, hard
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino; ground
- 2 tablespoons butter salted) at room temperature, to grease tray, salted
Instructions
1. Cooking plantains
- Cook in the microwave unpeeled for 4 minutes. Remove the peel (careful not to burn yourself). Remove the center of the plantain (looks like a nerve) and mash until there are no lumps. Cool to room temperature.
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2. Making balls
- Grease your hands with the oil. Make small balls (about a tablespoon of plantain puree). Poke a hollow in the ball and put a piece of mozzarella in it. Form a ball around it. Repeat until you finish with all the mashed plantains. Resist eating them now.
3. Covering with Parmesan
- Cover with Parmesan or Pecorino, making as thick a layer as you can. Place the balls on a greased tray and freeze hard (about 4 hours).
4. Baking
- Bake in preheated oven to 400 ºF [200 ºC] for 15 mins, or until they are golden brown outside and remove from the oven.
5. Serving
- Serve warm.
Notes
- Select ripe but firm plantains to avoid overly soft texture.
- Use hard (dry) mozzarella, as fresh mozzarella in brine can cause balls to break during baking.
- The number of balls depends on plantain size; about a tablespoon of mash per ball.
- Prepare in advance and freeze the balls, baking them just before serving.
- Salting is unnecessary because Parmesan adds sufficient saltiness.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2balls
Calories
292kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
29g
(10%)
Protein
9g
(18%)
Fat
17g
(26%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Cholesterol
49mg
(16%)
Sodium
726mg
(30%)
Potassium
471mg
(10%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
14g
(28%)
Vitamin A
1520IU
(30%)
Vitamin C
16.5mg
(18%)
Calcium
192mg
(19%)
Iron
0.7mg
(4%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 servings (18 balls ttl)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 292
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2balls | |
| Calories | 292kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 29g | 10% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Cholesterol | 49mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 726mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 471mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 14g | 28% |
| Vitamin A | 1520IU | 30% |
| Vitamin C | 16.5mg | 18% |
| Calcium | 192mg | 19% |
| Iron | 0.7mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.