AI-generated image
Bolón de verde con queso
Ecuadorian coastal breakfast balls of fried green plantain mashed with cheese and butter
On Ecuador's coast, in Guayaquil and Manabí, breakfast is often a bolón: green plantain fried, pounded while hot with butter and salty cheese, shaped into a fist-sized ball and fried again until crusty. It comes with a cup of strong black coffee and a fried egg, and a little ají on the side; the other classic version uses pork crackling, but cheese bolón is just as common. Chef's tip: shape them while the plantain is still hot; once cold the starch sets and won't stick together.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: To peel green plantains, cut off the ends, slit the skin lengthways and prise it off with your thumb.
Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp of 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-low heat. Fry 4 green (unripe) plantains for 12–15 minutes, turning, until soft right through and pale golden. A fork should go in with no resistance. Common mistake: high heat; the outside browns while the inside stays hard and won't mash.
15 minStep 3: While still hot, mash with 1 ⅜ oz butter in a bowl, or pound in a mortar, until it holds together with some small lumps. Mix in 5 ½ oz salty white cheese (queso costeño, feta or halloumi) and ½ tsp salt.
Step 4: With wet hands, quickly shape into 4 tight balls.
Step 5: Heat the rest of 2 tbsp vegetable oil in the pan over a medium heat and fry the balls, turning, for 6–8 minutes until crusty and golden all over. Serve hot with 4 fried eggs and coffee.
8 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 500 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does bolón de verde con queso take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Berry overnight oats
Stir everything together before bed and breakfast is ready when you wake up. Chia seeds make it thick and creamy, and frozen berries thaw overnight into a jammy layer.
Muesli
A soaked, Bircher-style muesli you stir together the night before. The oats soften in the yogurt overnight and the grated apple keeps it fresh and juicy. In the morning, add the strawberries and breakfast is ready. Any berries work in place of the strawberries.
Shakshuka
A one-pan breakfast that works just as well for dinner. Peppers and onions are cooked down with cumin and smoked paprika, then eggs are nestled in and poached until the whites set and the yolks stay runny. Bring the pan to the table with plenty of bread for dipping.
