Tajadas de Plátano Maduro con Queso
Sweet, ripe plantain slices fried until golden and caramelized, then served with salty, crumbly Nicaraguan cheese. This popular snack or side dish offers a delightful contrast of sweet and savory flavors.
🧂 Ingredients
- 4 large Ripe plantains(peeled and sliced diagonally about 1/4 inch thick)
- for frying Vegetable oil
- 200 g Nicaraguan cheese (Queso de Cincho or similar)(crumbled or sliced)
- pinch Optional: Salt
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Peel the ripe plantains and slice them diagonally into approximately 1/4-inch thick pieces. Ensure the plantains are very ripe (yellow with black spots) for maximum sweetness.
💡 Tip: Using very ripe plantains is key to achieving the sweet, caramelized flavor. - 2
Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat. The oil should be hot but not smoking.
💡 Tip: Test the oil temperature by dropping a small piece of plantain; it should sizzle immediately. - 3
Carefully place the plantain slices in the hot oil in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry in batches if necessary.
💡 Tip: Overcrowding the pan will lower the oil temperature and result in greasy tajadas. - 4
Fry the plantain slices for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and caramelized. Flip them gently with tongs.
⏱️ 6-10 minutes per batch💡 Tip: Watch closely as they can go from golden to burnt quickly due to their sugar content. - 5
Remove the fried tajadas from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
💡 Tip: Draining on paper towels helps to keep them crispy. - 6
If desired, lightly sprinkle the warm tajadas with a pinch of salt.
💡 Tip: Salt enhances the sweetness of the plantains. - 7
Serve the warm tajadas immediately with crumbled or sliced Nicaraguan cheese on the side or on top.
💡 Tip: The contrast between the warm, sweet tajadas and the cool, salty cheese is delightful.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓The riper the plantain, the sweeter and more caramelized the tajadas will be.
- ✓Adjust frying time based on the heat of your oil and the thickness of your slices.
- ✓Queso de Cincho is a semi-hard, salty cheese common in Nicaragua. If unavailable, a salty feta or a firm, crumbly white cheese can be substituted.
🔄 Variations
- Serve with a side of sour cream (crema Nicaragüense).
- Drizzle with a little honey for an extra sweet treat.
- Add a sprinkle of chili powder for a sweet and spicy kick.