Bolón de Queso Recipe (Ecuadorian Green Plantain Dumplings)

Last modified on November 6, 2025 • 2 min read • 375 words

A breakfast highlight! Bolón is not only my absolute favorite breakfast, but it’s also one of the most typical breakfast in Ecuador. We treat ourselves to these delicious bolónes several times a week! A fried egg with a soft yolk rounds it off perfectly. The experience is complete when creamy avocado, a good portion of homemade Ají (a typical chili sauce), and the nutty, spicy Salprieta (a mix of peanuts, corn, and herbs) are added to the plate.

Infos  

  15 Minutes   2 Servings   Don’t throw away the cooking water!

Ingredients  

• 2 green plantains
• 100 g salad cow type cheese (Hirtenkäse a similar fresh, salty cheese)
• 2 pinches of salt
• Optional: 30g Butter

Steps  

1. Peel the plantains and cut them into pieces about 3 cm (1.2 inches) wide.
2. Boil the plantains in water over medium-high heat for about 10-15 minutes, or until soft.
3. Once soft, mash the plantains with the salt and optional butter, to form a smooth dough. Taste and adjust the salt.
4. Add a splash of the cooking water to achieve the desired moldable consistency.
5. Crumble the cheese into the dough and mix it in.
6. With your hands, form two large balls (the bolónes) and serve immediately.

  Note

Cooking plantains often causes the cooking water to turn red or even black. This is completely harmless.

So, what exactly are Bolónes?  

The base is simple: green plantains that are boiled or fried and then mashed into a ball shape. To this, you can add cubes of savory cheese, bits of fried pork (chicharrón) – or both, which in Ecuador is called a “Mixto”.

The regional differences are also fascinating. On the coast, the bolón is formed directly from the cooked or fried plantains (my personal favorite method). In the Andes, however, the finished dumpling is often fried again, making it crispy on the outside.

Bolón is the perfect start to the day – hearty, filling, and full of flavor. It’s not just incredibly delicious; it’s a breakfast that keeps me full well into the afternoon. It just feels so good!

If you want to feel satisfyingly full for hours, give it a try!

  Note

By the way, you’ll soon find more bolón variations in our cookbook!