Rellenitos de plátano facts for kids
Rellenitos de plátano is a yummy dessert from Guatemala. It's made from sweet, mashed plantains that are shaped into little balls. These balls are filled with a special mix of refried beans, chocolate, and cinnamon. After being filled, they are deep-fried until they are golden brown. People usually serve them with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of honey on top. Rellenitos are a very popular treat in Guatemala!
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What Does "Rellenitos" Mean?
The name Rellenitos de plátano tells you a lot about this dish. It uses two very common foods in Latin America: black beans (called frijoles negros in Spanish) and ripe plantains (called plátanos).
The word Rellenito comes from the Spanish verb rellenar, which means "to stuff" or "to fill". The ending -ito is a special part of Spanish words that means "little" or "small". So, when you put it all together, Rellenitos de plátano means "little stuffed plantain things". It's a perfect name for these small, filled plantain treats!
How Are Rellenitos Made?
Making rellenitos is a fun process that turns simple ingredients into a delicious dessert.
Cooking the Plantains
First, plantains are cut into medium-sized pieces. These pieces are then boiled with a bit of cinnamon until they become very soft. This usually takes about ten minutes. Once they are tender, the plantains are taken out of the water and mashed into a smooth paste. This paste is then set aside to cool down.
Making the Filling
While the plantain paste cools, the filling is prepared. The filling is a mix of black refried beans, chocolate, and cinnamon. To make it, Guatemalan or Maya chocolate is melted in water. Then, the refried beans and cinnamon are added to the melted chocolate. This creates a rich, sweet, and slightly savory mixture.
Assembling and Frying
Once the plantain paste is cool, a small amount is taken and flattened by hand into a thick, small tortilla shape. The center of this "tortilla" is made a bit hollow, like a small bowl. This "bowl" is then filled with the bean, chocolate, and cinnamon mixture.
After adding the filling, the edges of the plantain "tortilla" are carefully folded and sealed. This creates a shape that looks a lot like an egg, with the plantain paste as the outer shell and the bean mixture inside. Finally, these egg-shaped rellenitos are fried in a pan with oil until they are golden brown on all sides.
Rellenitos are enjoyed all year round in Guatemala. They are known for being simple to make and not very expensive, making them a favorite dessert for many people.
