Mazamorra de plátano: Sweet Ripe Plantain and Coconut Porridge
Mazamorra de plátano is a deeply comforting and naturally sweet dessert porridge beloved across Latin America, particularly along the Colombian Caribbean coast. This rich, creamy dish brilliantly combines the natural caramel-like sweetness of overly ripe plantains with the tropical fragrance of fresh coconut milk and warming cinnamon.
The secret to this quick 30-minute recipe lies in extracting two different concentrations of milk from a fresh coconut to properly cook the rice and plantains. By constantly stirring the mixture as it simmers, the plantains naturally break down and thicken the porridge, creating a luscious texture.
Mazamorra de plátano (Colombian Ripe Plantain Porridge)
A sweet, creamy Caribbean dessert porridge made with ripe plantains, rice, and freshly extracted coconut milk.
Ingredients
- 8 Ripe plantains
- 1 cup Rice
- 1 Large fresh coconut
- Cinnamon to taste
- Sugar optional
Instructions
- Prep the plantains: Peel the ripe plantains, slice them in half lengthwise, and carefully remove the dark center seed line. Once seeded, chop the plantains into small, uniform chunks.
- Extract the first milk: Grate or blend the fresh coconut meat and squeeze it through a cheesecloth to extract the rich, concentrated "first milk." In a pot, combine this thick coconut milk with the rice and a few dashes of cinnamon, then place it over medium heat.
- Extract the second milk: Take the leftover squeezed coconut pulp, add water, and blend or squeeze it a second time to extract a thinner, lighter liquid known as the "second milk."
- Combine and simmer: Add the chopped ripe plantains to the pot with the simmering rice. Pour in just enough of the thinner second coconut milk so that the liquid barely covers all the solid ingredients in the pot.
- Stir and thicken: Cook the mixture over steady heat, stirring continuously to prevent sticking. Keep stirring until the plantains completely break down and melt into the liquid, creating a thick, homogeneous porridge.
- Finish and season: Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in a splash of reserved fresh coconut milk to adjust the creaminess. Taste the porridge and add sugar if you prefer a sweeter dessert, along with extra cinnamon to your liking.
- Serve: This sweet porridge is traditionally enjoyed fresh and piping hot straight from the stove, though it is also perfectly acceptable to serve it chilled.
Notes
- Nutritional Profile: Mazamorra de plátano is not just a delicious treat; it is naturally packed with dietary fiber, essential vitamins, minerals, and complex starches.
- Surprising Health Benefits: Interestingly, traditional wellness lore highlights that the plantain family (particularly green plantains) is believed to help combat ailments like gastritis, anemia, constipation, nervous tension, and incredibly, even depression.
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