PLANTAIN CAKE

Rwanda is a major producer of plantain, which although related to banana cannot be eaten raw. A local wine, or pomlse ya n’dizi is made with plantains or bananas.

2 ripe plantains, sliced in half, then in strips

225 g cottage cheese

3 egg yolks

3 egg whites

1 tbsp dry breadcrumbs

1 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Fry plantain strips in the oil until brown on both sides. Mix cheese, cinnamon, and sugar in a bowl. Beat egg yolks in one bowl, and the whites stiffly in another. Grease a baking dish, and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Fold stiff egg whites into yolks, pour a quarter into the dish and spread on the egg mixture and a layer of fried plantain. Cover with quarter of cheese and some olive oil. Repeat layers, until ingredients are used up. Save a little egg mix and oil to pour over final layer. Bake in 180 ºC oven for 40 minutes. Serve with meat.

Serves 4.

country : Rwanda

course : side dish

source : Laos to Liberia : Nutritious Foods from 200 Lands / Debbie Cook & Andy Gravette