Cheese and Ripe Plantain Balls [Video+Recipe] Bolitas de Plátano Maduro

Ingredients

• 3 plantain ((ripe, yellow) (see notes))
• 2 tablespoon vegetable oil (for greasing hands)
• 1 cup hard mozzarella (diced [0.34 kg])
• 1/2 cup ground Parmesan or Pecorino
• 2 tablespoons salted butter ((salted) at room temperature, to grease tray)

Instructions

1. 1

   --- 1. Cooking plantains ---

2. 2

   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.

3. 3

   --- 2. Making balls ---

4. 4

   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.

5. 5

   --- 3. Covering with Parmesan ---

6. 6

   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).

7. 7

   --- 4. Baking ---

8. 8

   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.

9. 9

   --- 5. Serving ---

10. 10

    Serving: Serve warm.