Bolón de Verde
Bolón de verde is the traditional breakfast of Ecuador's Pacific coast, where plantain, not corn or wheat, is the base of everyday eating. The name describes exactly what the dish is — a "ball" (bolón) of "green" (green plantain) — and it's sold from early morning at markets in Guayaquil, often alongside a cup of coffee or a glass of fresh juice. The difference between a bolón that holds together and one that falls apart lies in two key moments of preparation: the plantains must be boiled, not fried raw, so their tough starch softens enough to be kneaded, and the cheese must be fully sealed inside. A gap left open cracks on contact with the hot oil, and the melted cheese leaks out instead of staying creamy at the center, exactly where it should surprise you at the first bite.
The green plantains are boiled first, not fried straight from raw
Boiling softens them enough to mash easily, without leaving hard chunks in the mixture
The mashed plantain is kneaded by hand, like dough, not blitzed in a blender
Hand-kneading keeps a bit of texture and binds the starch well, so the ball holds its shape
The cheese is buried fully in the center of the ball, then the edge is sealed tight
A gap left open cracks open during frying and lets the melted cheese leak into the oil
The ball fries or bakes over medium heat, turned often on all sides
The starchy outer skin browns evenly, while the inside stays soft and warm
Ingredients 4 servings
- 4 green plantains, peeled and cut into pieces
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp butter or oil
- 150g mild yellow cheese, crumbled
- Oil, for frying or greasing
How to make it
- 1BOIL THE PLANTAINS: boil the plantain pieces in salted water, about 20 minutes, until tender.
- 2KNEAD: drain the plantains, add the butter, then knead by hand while still warm, until you get a smooth dough, without large lumps.
- 3DIVIDE AND FILL: divide the dough into 6-8 equal portions, flatten each portion in your palm, place a teaspoon of cheese in the middle.
- 4SHAPE THE BALLS: seal the edges well around the cheese and roll each portion into a compact ball.
- 5FRY OR BAKE: fry the balls in hot oil over medium heat, turning them often, until browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes; alternatively, bake at 200°C for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- 6SERVE: serve warm, as part of breakfast, alongside coffee or hot chocolate.
Nutritional info
per serving (~350 g)
Estimated nutritional values.
Pairs perfectly with
