Guatemalan Cooking

A few weeks ago our friend and co-worker Hilda came over to our house to teach Katie (our new roomie and volunteer) and I a little Guatemalan cooking. I haven't experienced much of the culinary flavors of Guatemala (partly because they aren't really known for their cuisine, and partly because there is a lot of meat in their cooking). However, rellenitos are one delicious item I had tried during an English class party. Hilda, having lots of experience in making these, decided she would give us a little lesson in how to prepare the rellenitos.


The ingredients are really quite simple. All you need are plantains, black beans, sugar, cinnamon, and oil. This may sound a little strange, but the savory-sweet combination makes these dynamite! So to prepare the plantains are steamed in their skins until they are hot enough me mashed together. The black beans should be cooked ahead of time and pureed, then reheated with a bit of cinnamon and sugar in them. When both things are ready the plantains are rolled into balls, then patted like tortillas. A little bit of beans are placed in the center of the "tortilla" and then rolled up and totally enclosed - looking like a twinkie or something. When all the little twinkie rolls are ready they are fried in oil until brown.

Now that I have learned the process surely many of you will benefit. I plan to make these more in the future here in Guatemala and in the United States. ¡Buen provecho!