serves
8
prep
15 minutes
cook
1:40 hour
difficulty
Easy
serves
8
people
preparation
15
minutes
cooking
1:40
hour
difficulty
Easy
level
Be generous with the cheese! The slight saltiness of the queso and the sweetness of the ripe plaintains go very well together. And with the sherry, the cinnamon, the allspice, it smells like Christmas.
Ingredients
- 3 ripe plantains, whole
- ½ cup toasted sesame seeds + 2 tbsp for garnish
- 2 cups sherry, divided
- 2 cups brown sugar, divided
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 180 g (5½ oz) queso llanero (see Note)
- 4½ tbsp (90ml) butter
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 12 allspice berries
- 7 whole cloves
- 1 cup water
- Whipped cream and fresh fruit, for garnish
Cooling time: 10 minutes
Standing time: 15 minutes
Instructions
1. Place plantains in a large stock pot and cover with water.
2. Bring water to a boil over high heat and continue boiling for 25-30 minutes, or until plantains are tender. Remove plantains from water and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 180oC / 350oF.
4. Remove skin from plantains and cut flesh into small pieces.Transfer plantain to a food processor with ½ cup sesame seeds, 1 cup sherry, 1 cup brown sugar, breadcrumbs, queso llanero, butter, ground cinnamon and ground cloves. Process until batter is stiff, adding more breadcrumbs if needed. Press batter into a greased baking dish. Bake for 75 minutes, or until done.
5. Meanwhile, in a medium sauce pan, combine remaining 1 cup brown sugar, remaining 1 cup of sherry, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, whole cloves and 1 cup of water.
6. Bring to a boil over high heat, and cook for 30-45 minutes, or until mixture reduces by half and reaches the consistency of syrup.
7. After removing cake from oven, use a toothpick to poke holes into the top of the cake and pour syrup over top. Let cake sit for 15 minutes until all syrup has been absorbed by cake.
8. Remove cake from baking dish, and serve at room temperature. Garnish with remaining 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds, whipped cream and fresh fruit.
Note
• Queso llanero is a soft, white salty cheese. You can use a mild creamy feta or mozzarella instead.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
Be generous with the cheese! The slight saltiness of the queso and the sweetness of the ripe plaintains go very well together. And with the sherry, the cinnamon, the allspice, it smells like Christmas.
