Aborrajados: "Battered" Plantains from Colombia
Aborrajados, or "battered", are a regional specialty from Cali. Cheese-filled plantains are dipped in batter and deep-fried, creating this crunchy, savory dish. This recipe was given to us by Jaime Otero Llanos and Celmira Otero Llanos.
Ingrediants:
- 2 very ripe plantains
- 7 oz. of queso fresco (this can be found in Latin American specialty stores)
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup of milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3/4 cup of flour
Directions:
Batter:
- First make the batter by mixing milk, egg, salt, and sugar.
- Add one tablespoon of flour at a time until batter is semi-thick.
Plantains:
- Peel and cut plantains into 2-inch sections.
- Fry in a pan until golden.
- Press down on the fried plantains to flatten them.
- Place a tablespoon amount of cheese in between the two sections of plantain.
- Using your fingers, press down on the sides of the plantain pieces.
- Dip the pieces in the batter for a couple minutes.
- Fry the aborrajados until golden brown.
Carolina Restrepo is a program intern for the Columbia program at the 2011 Folklife Festival.