Dominican-Style Sweet Plantain Empanadas

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Golden fried empanadas filled with sweet ripe plantains and spiced cheese, capturing the beloved flavors of the Dominican Republic. This Caribbean-inspired recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, turns ripe plantains, grated mozzarella cheese, all-purpose flour into a satisfying snack for between meals, packed lunches, or game-day spreads — minimal active time and easy to scale up for a crowd. Each serving lands at about 190 calories and feeds 8, so it fits into lunchboxes, road trips, or an afternoon-energy gap without derailing the day. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 8 Caribbean cuisine 190 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Peel and slice 3 medium ripe plantains into chunks and steam or boil in water for about 10 minutes until very soft and tender.
  2. Step 2: Transfer softened plantains to a bowl and mash thoroughly with 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg until smooth.
  3. Step 3: Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1/4 cup water gradually to form a soft dough. Divide dough into 8 equal balls.
  4. Step 4: Flatten each dough ball into a 4-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Spoon about 2 tbsp of the mashed plantain mixture and 2 tbsp grated mozzarella cheese onto the center of each circle.
  5. Step 5: Fold dough over filling to create a half-moon shape and press edges firmly to seal.
  6. Step 6: Heat 2 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat to 350°F. Fry empanadas in batches for 3-4 minutes each side until golden brown and crisp.
  7. Step 7: Drain on paper towels and serve warm as a sweet and cheesy snack or appetizer.

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