Brazilian Cartola Dessert with Banana and Queso de Freír  

Cartola is a traditional Brazilian dessert made with bananas or ripe plantains and cheese coated with sugar and cinnamon. It can be enjoyed as a dessert, brunch, or snack. This Brazilian Cartola recipe uses Tropical Queso de Freír.

Although bananas and cheese may not seem like a natural combination, they are a perfect match in the Brazilian Cartola. Some use melted cheese, but the most common way to make Cartola is with queijo Manteiga or queijo Sertão, similar to Tropical’s Queso de Freír because it can be fried, grilled, or pan-seared without melting.  You’ll have an authentic experience when preparing this recipe.

How do you make Banana and Cheese Cartola? Place the butter-sauteed bananas on a plate and top with a slice of golden Queso de Freír generously coated with cinnamon and sugar. It’s that simple and ready to enjoy. You can serve it with fresh strawberries and dulce de leche.

You can buy Tropical Queso de Freír at any supermarket where Tropical products are sold. Use our Store Locator to find a location near you.

Ingredients

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large bananas
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 10-ounce package Tropical Queso de Freir
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup prepared Dulce de Leche, warmed
• Fresh strawberries, each cut in half

Preparation

1. On shallow plate combine sugar and cinnamon until blended.
2. Peel bananas. Cut each one in half lengthwise; then again in half crosswise. In 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, in 1 tablespoon hot butter, cook banana pieces until golden brown, adding more butter if necessary, turning once. Remove bananas to plate.
3. Cut Queso de Freir into ½-inch-thick slices. In same skillet over medium-high heat, in hot oil, cook cheese slices until well browned on both sides. Remove to cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat well on both sides.
4. To serve, place four banana pieces on serving plate; top with a cinnamon- sugar coated cheese slice. Repeat with remaining bananas and cheese. Serve with dulce de leche and strawberries.