Aborrajados (Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese)

By
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes
Marian Blazes is a freelance writer and recipe developer with a passion for South American food. She wrote a cookbook focusing on the cuisine of Brazil.
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Updated on 11/29/21
Aborrajados - Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
243 Calories
17g Fat
20g Carbs
3g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories 243
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 42mg 14%
Sodium 221mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 5mg 26%
Calcium 53mg 4%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 249mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Aborrajados are a Colombian treat, and like buñuelos and torta de choclo they are hard to categorize. They are both savory and sweet—appetizer and/or dessert. Aborrajados are sweet ripe slices of plantain that have been stuffed with cheese, coated in batter and deep-fried. Some people like to add a slice of guava paste to their aborrajados, which pushes them towards the dessert category.

Learn what foods you need to stock your pantry with to cook Colombian recipes.

Ingredients

  • 2 ripe plantains, black and yellow

  • 1/2 cup grated cheese, farmer cheese, Monterey Jack, or mozzarella

  • 2 large eggs

  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons milk

  • 6 cups vegetable oil, for frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Aborrajados - Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Preheat several inches of oil to 360 F.

    oil in a pot, thermometer

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Slice the ends off of the plantains, then slice through the peel lengthwise several times to help remove the peel. Slice the plantains crosswise into 1 1/2-inch thick pieces.

    plantains peeled and sliced on a cutting board

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. Fry the plantain slices in the oil until golden brown, about 4 minutes.

    plantain slices frying in a pot with oil

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  5. Drain the plantain pieces on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, place each slice between two pieces of waxed paper, and use the flat bottom of a glass to flatten the plantain to about 1/4 inch thickness.

    use the flat bottom of a glass to flatten the plantain pieces

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  6. Sandwich 1 to 2 tablespoons of grated cheese between 2 slices of plantain, pressing the plantain together around the edges to seal in the cheese. Repeat with remaining plantain slices.

    cheese on top of a flattened plantain, plantain pieces

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  7. Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together. Stir in the eggs, and add enough milk to make a thick batter. Stir until well mixed.

    egg mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  8. Dip the plantain "sandwiches" into the batter to coat them, then return them to the oil to fry in batches, until golden brown and crispy on the outside (about 4 minutes).

    Aborrajados - Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese frying in a pot

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  9. Drain on paper towels and serve warm.

    Aborrajados - Fried Sweet Plantains With Cheese

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck