Plantain Arepas with Grilled Queso Blanco
Since I discovered that the arepa dough (not the filling, but the dough) can be the vehicle for my kids to eat vegetables, I have not stopped developing new recipes.
And the proof is these plantain arepas stuffed with grilled cheese, whose dough also has red bell pepper, leeks and Cacique® Queso Blanco cheese, in addition to the corn arepa flour.
These arepas, which are perfect for breakfast or Sunday brunch, combine the sweet flavor of the plantains and red bell pepper, with the savory cheese. The perfect combo.
To make them even better, they are filled with grilled cheese. They are a treat in my house that even the picky eaters can’t resist.
I hope you like my recipe.
Note: Click the ‘Products‘ tab above to learn more about the Cacique® ingredients used in this recipe. You can find these ingredients near you by clicking the ‘Find Stores‘ tab, selecting the products you are looking for, and entering your zip code.
WHAT YOU NEED
- 2 unripe ripe bananas
- 2 spoons butter
- 3 cups leeks (white part and something green), finely chopped
- 1 cup red bell pepper deveined, seeded, finely chopped
- 1 cup ground Cacique® Ranchero® Queso Fresco
- ½ cup pre-cooked corn flour (to make arepas)
- ½ cup water
- Salt
- Cacique® Queso Blanco sliced
HOW TO MAKE IT
- Peel the plantains and cut them into 3 and then cut each piece lengthwise so you can remove the veins and seeds.
- In a pot, put the plantains and cover with water. Cook them until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain the plantains, put them in a shallow dish and mash them.
- While the plantains are being cooked, melt the butter on a skillet over medium-low heat and sauté the leek with the red bell pepper until wilted.
- Put the plantains in a bowl, add the sofrito, ground cheese, arepa flour, water and salt, and mix well until a consistent dough is formed.
- Pre heat a skillet over medium heat and meanwhile, with your hands form small balls and make them flat to form about 2 inches in diameter arepas.
- Put the arepas to cook in the pan for 3-4 minutes, turn and cook for 3-4 minutes. 8. In the same griddle or in a frying pan over medium-high heat, put cheese slices to grill until they begin to brown, and turn and grill for 2-3 minutes total.
- Cut the arepas and fill them with the grilled cheese and serve.
