Delicious Panamanian almojábano made of corn and cheese is easy to make with only 4 ingredients. Serve them with coffee and more fresh cheese. You must try them; you will love it!
Today I bring you another recipe made with corn, another typical Panamanian breakfast, specific to the province of Chiriquí.
Corn is a widely used ingredient in Panamanian gastronomy; you can make sweet and savory dishes.
Every time I travel to Chiriquí, this is one of the must-eat things and strawberries with cream (fresas con crema).
This recipe came from using things I had at home and looking for known flavors. Also easy and fast to do.
I'm going to share a short version of almojábano. It is not the traditional way of making it, but it achieves a flavor and texture very similar to the traditional one.
I’m working on some related recipes, so once I get the corn cooking, I can give you more information on how to do it at home in the traditional way.
What is almojábano?
It´s fried dough in the shape of an "S" made with cooked corn, fresh cheese, and salt. The “S” shape is for how you see Panama on the map.
The almojábano is one of the typical foods of the province of Chiriquí. It is so unique that there is a Festival called the Dolega International Folk Festival of Almojábano con Queso.
They have a dish with a similar name, "almojábana" in Colombia, but they are different in shape, ingredients, and cooking methods.
📋 Ingredients for the recipe
To prepare this recipe, you will need pre-cooked yellow cornmeal, white cheese, salt, water, and frying oil. In the recipe card below, you will have the complete measurements of each of these ingredients.
As for utensils, we will use a large bowl and a pan to fry them.
Now that we have all the ingredients and utensils, then let's get started.
📝 How to make Panamanian almojábano recipe? - Step by Step
Step 1: In the large bowl, add water and salt. Mix until you dilute the salt.
Then add the cornmeal and knead until you have a smooth dough. Make sure there is no dry space left from the cornmeal.
Step 2: Now add the crumbled white cheese. You could also shred it to incorporate it and knead everything until you have a homogeneous and smooth dough.
Step 3: Then proceed to shape it. Take a portion of the dough, roll it into a ball and then roll it out like a stick. With your fingers, you make the "S" shapes with the tips moving them one to one side and the other.
Many small almojábanos will come out, approximately 40-45. You can make them thicker as well.
Step 4: Now, to cook, in a pan, add oil and let it heat over medium heat. Once it is hot, you can lower the heat a little to keep it warm.
Add several at once, but have space between them so that the oil does not get cold. Fry for a few minutes on each side until golden brown. Do this in batches until you finish.
Step 5: Remove them from the oil and drain on a paper towel. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
FAQs and Tips
Can the recipe be reduced?
This recipe makes a ton!
You can cut in half without inconvenience, and you follow the same steps.
Can you cook in the air fryer?
Yes, you can add some oil (spray) to avoid the dough to dry out. Air fry at 350º F for 5 minutes flip and then 390ºF for 5 more minutes. Do this in batches.
Serving Suggestions:
- As for side dishes, it honestly works well with a delicious fresh cup of coffee and additional slices of white cheese.
- You can also serve it with something with tomato sauce, like stewed sausages.
Substitutions:
- Corn flour: If you’re in Panama and manage to get the ground corn dough, it would only be a matter of replacing it. You can use about 2 cups.
- White Cheese: You can use some fresh cheese. You could use mozzarella cheese or even feta cheese. With the mozzarella cheese, you may see it oozing out because it is meltier. But It will taste great. If you feel it can use more cheese, go all in!
Panamanian Almojábanos
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups pre-cooked yellow cornmeal
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups water
- 5 ounces fresh white cheese (queso prensado)
- Oil for frying, aprox ½ cup
Utensils
- A frying pan
- A spoon
Instructions
- In the large bowl, add water and salt. Mix until you dilute the salt. Then add the cornmeal and knead until you have a smooth dough. Make sure there is no dry space left from the cornmeal.
- Now add the crumbled white cheese. You could also shred it to incorporate it and mix everything until you have a homogeneous and smooth dough.
- Then proceed to shape it. Take a portion of the dough, roll it into a ball and then roll it out like a stick. With your fingers, you make the "S" shapes with the tips moving them one to one side and the other. It will yield around 45 small almojábanos. You can make them thicker as well.
- Now, to cook, in a pan, add oil and let it heat over medium heat. Once it is hot, you can lower the heat a little to keep it warm.
- Add several at once, but have space between them so that the oil does not get cold. Fry for a few minutes on each side until golden brown. Do this in batches until you finish.
- Remove them from the oil and drain on a paper towel. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Notes
Substitutions:
- Corn flour: If you’re in Panama and manage to get the ground corn dough, it would only be a matter of replacing it. You can use about 2 cups.
- White Cheese: You can use some fresh cheese. You could use mozzarella cheese or even feta cheese. With the mozzarella cheese, you may see it oozing out because it is meltier. But It will taste great.
Can the recipe be reduced?
This recipe makes a ton! You can cut in half without inconvenience, and you follow the same steps.Can you cook in the air fryer (air fryer)?
Yes, you can add some oil (spray) to avoid the dough to dry out. Air fry at 350º F for 5 minutes flip and then 390ºF for 5 more minutes. Do this in batches.Nutrition
Other recipes made with corn:
If you tried the Panamanian Almojábano recipe or any other recipe at Nashi Food, don't forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! We love knowing about your cooking experience.
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