Puerto Rican Almojábanas

Puerto Rican Almojábanas make a quick and easy yummy snack or can be enjoyed for breakfast! Perfect with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate!

Sometimes a quick easy treat is in order!

What better than these little fritters!

They’re not only easy to make but if you need simple food that will feed multiple people, this is a great option.

It’s affordable and little bit goes a long way!

What are Almojábanas?

These delicious small treats are very popular in the northwestern and central parts of Puerto Rico.

Essentially, they’re a fried fritter but they’re a sort of bread fried fritter made of rice flour and cheese and are usually enjoyed as a snack or for breakfast.

They also pair perfectly with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Where to Buy Rice Flour?

Luckily, rice flour is easily found in your local supermarket.

You will either find it in the baking section or the Latin section of your market.

Different Versions

These fritters are made in two versions:

• salty version
• sweet version

Both use the same ingredients except one will have sugar.

Toppings

Whenever I make rice fritters, I serve them with a side of mayoketchup.

If you’re not familiar with mayoketchup, it is a sauce we use on many different fritters such as Sorullitos (Corn Sticks), Garlic Tostones (Fried Green Plantains), Yuca Frita (Fried Yuca) salads and much more.

However, some people prefer to top these fritters with honey or roll them in cinnamon and sugar.

Others even serve them with Cheez Whiz!

Almojábanas Lareñas

These are so popular on the island that every year in a town called Lares a festival is held known as the “Festival de la Almojábana.”

Musicians, artisans, and loads of food kiosks fill the street with delicious Puerto Rican goodies including of course almojábanas!

Columbian, Venezuelen vs Puerto Rican Almojábanas

Columbia and Venezuela also make a delicious bready treat known by the same name but using slightly different ingredients.

Columbia makes them using cornmeal while Venezuela uses flour or cassava starch.

Ingredients

• rice flour
• all purpose flour
• baking powder
• cheese of your choice
• milk
• water
• eggs
• salt
• butter
• vegetable or canola oil for frying

MayoKetchup

• mayonnaise
• ketchup
• garlic paste or finely minced garlic
• salt to taste

How to Make Puerto Rican Almojábanas

For the MayoKetchup Sauce

1. Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup and garlic paste in a small bowl.
2. Add salt to taste. Set aside until ready to use.

1. Gather all your ingredients.
2. Add the rice flour, baking powder, flour and salt to a mixing bowl and mix together.
3. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl.

1. Add the eggs to the mix and whisk the mix together.
2. Slowly start adding in the milk while at the same time mixing the mix until all the milk is added.
3. Add the water.

1. Whisk mix again until smooth.
2. Add the cheese.

1. Whisk the cheese into with mix.
2. Melt butter in the microwave or stovetop.
3. Add melted butter to mix and whisk again.

1. Allow mix to rest for 20 minutes.
2. The mix will start to stiffen up some.
3. Add about an inch and a half deep of vegetable or canola oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat.
4. After two minutes or less test oil by adding a small drop of the mix to oil. If the oil sizzles, it is ready.
5. Add a heaping tablespoon of the mix to the oil and fry.
6. Repeat with a few more tablespoons of the mix but do not overcrowd pan.
7. When the fritter is golden brown on one side, flip it over and cook until golden brown.
8. Drain fritters on a plate lined with paper towels.
9. Serve immediately with mayoketchup sauce.

Storing and Reheating

To store these, simply place them in a container and refrigerate.

When ready to eat, remove from the refrigerator and bring them to room temperature or reheat in the oven.

To Reheat in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Once oven has heated through, heat fritters for 10 minutes.

To Reheat in the Microwave

Although you can heat these in the microwave, just keep in mind that they will be better if heated in the oven instead. Their shape will keep better than heating them in the microwave where they tend to become a little too soft especially if overheated.

So if heating in the microwave, just heat for a few seconds and serve right away.