Mr. Adrián is a local grower who brings lots of fruit to the farmers’ market. These are the plantains I bought, and the cheese is the kind you can find there too (goat cheese and panela). Place the plantains in a pot, cover with water, and cook until the skins split.

Once cooked, drain and peel the plantains carefully—they’ll be very hot and release steam when opened. Transfer them to a bowl to make the plantain dough.

Mash the plantains (I used a bean masher) and season with salt, pepper, and oregano. Mix well.

Add your preferred breadcrumbs—I used a whole package to help dry out the dough and give it a firmer, mashed texture. Now for the fun part: have your filling ingredients ready—goat cheese, panela cheese, and refried beans.

Take a portion of plantain dough, press and flatten it to make an indentation. Spread a little refried beans inside and place a small cube of cheese in the center (don’t overfill so they don’t open, but add enough for good flavor). Close by folding the edges over the filling and shape with your hands, pressing and patting into a round patty. Don’t make them too thick so they brown well in the oil.

Since the beans were spicy and I made these for my nieces and nephews, I also made some with just goat cheese filling. Use the same method, but shape them into longer, flatter patties. This way you can tell them apart. Tip: any leftovers can be served as dessert with caramel, jam, or sweetened condensed milk because the flavor is neutral!

Heat enough oil in a skillet—I didn’t use enough to fully submerge the patties, which is why I keep them thin to avoid wasting oil. Once the oil is hot over medium heat, add the patties one by one as you make them. When the bottom is golden and crisp, carefully flip with a flat spatula. Once both sides are golden, transfer to paper towels to drain.

Serve them together or however you like—they’re delicious and golden! I served them like gorditas, topped with crema, crumbled panela cheese, and salsa from my recipe collection. You’ll love them! Show me how yours turn out, and if you try different fillings, share your own version!