Rellenitos de plátano are a Guatemalan dessert made of ripe plantain mash filled with sweet black bean paste, fried until golden and dusted with sugar.
They’re one of Guatemala’s most popular street desserts, valued for the contrast between the sweetness of the plantain and the bean filling.
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Guatemalan Rellenitos de Plátano Sweet
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 12 pieces
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Guatemalan
Ingredients
- 6 of ripe plantains
- 1/4 cup of cornstarch or flour (to add body to the mash) (optional)
- 1 cup of cooked and strained black beans
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1 of cinnamon stick
- to taste of oil, for frying
- to taste of sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Cook the plantains, boil the ripe plantains with their peel on until soft.
- Make the mash, peel them and make a smooth mash, adding the cornstarch if you want more body.
- Make the filling, cook the strained black beans together with the sugar and cinnamon over low heat, stirring, until you get a thick, sweet paste. Let cool.
- Shape the rellenitos, take a portion of plantain mash, flatten it in the palm of your hand, and place a spoonful of bean filling in the center.
- Close, close into an oval-shaped ball, making sure the filling is well covered.
- Fry, fry the rellenitos in hot oil until golden on all sides.
- Serve, drain excess oil and dust with sugar before serving.
Tips for getting it right
- Using very ripe plantains gives a sweeter mash that’s easier to work with.
- The bean filling should be well chilled before assembling the rellenitos, making it easier to handle.
- Sealing the edges well when closing each rellenito keeps the filling from leaking out during frying.
- Dusting with sugar right before serving, while still hot, helps it stick better.
Traditional variations
- It’s one of the best-selling street desserts in Guatemala, found in markets and fairs.
- Some versions add ground cinnamon to the plantain mash, in addition to the cinnamon used in the filling.
How to serve
Rellenitos de plátano are served hot or warm, dusted with sugar.
They’re a very popular street dessert in Guatemala, enjoyed as a snack or dessert.
Recommended sides
- Coffee
Did you know?
Rellenitos de plátano combine two fundamental ingredients of the Guatemalan diet: plantain and black beans.
They’re one of Guatemala’s most recognizable street desserts, very popular in markets and fairs throughout the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a Guatemalan dessert of ripe plantain mash filled with sweet black bean paste, fried and dusted with sugar.
Cooked, strained black beans are used, cooked with sugar and cinnamon until forming a thick, sweet paste.
A chilled filling is easier to handle and keeps the rellenito from losing its shape when sealing it.
They're a very popular street dessert, sold in markets and fairs throughout Guatemala.
