Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese
Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese was developed from our love of fusing cultures. It was like magic! We mashed up ripe plantains, spread them on a crust, and then dolloped creamy cream cheese on top. They baked it until it was all warm and gooey. And guess what? It tasted amazing!
What is Jamaican plantain tart made of?
Sweet plantains fill the flaky pastry crust of Plantain Tarts. Plantain tarts are easy to make and require only a few ingredients.
Active sentence: Flour, salt, shortening, and butter make the crust.
The filling has mashed plantains. It also has food coloring, butter, vanilla, rose water, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. You can enjoy a delicious and nutritious treat as a snack or dessert.
When did we come up with Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese?
We came up with the idea of a Jamaican plantain tart with cream cheese. It came from our obsession and experimentation with cultural fusion. It could be a modern take on traditional Jamaican desserts. Or, it could be a creative twist influenced by global culinary trends. A plantain tart with cream cheese showcases local ingredients. It highlights ingredients like plantains in a special dessert.
Plantains in the Jamaican Cuisine
Plantains have been a staple in Jamaican cuisine for centuries. They are versatile.
You can cook them at various ripeness stages. They offer both sweet and savory uses. Jamaican dishes fry, boil or bake plantains.
People use them in fried plantains and plantain chips. They are also used in boiled green plantains served with saltfish.
Does Cream Cheese have a big influence in Jamaica?
Cream cheese is not part of traditional Jamaican cuisine. It is not a native ingredient.
But, Jamaican culinary culture is famous for adapting to different influences.
It is willing to add new flavors and ingredients from other culinary traditions.
Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese Ingredients
- Ripe Plantains– The star ingredient, providing sweetness and flavor. We use ripe plantains for their soft texture and enhanced sweetness.
- Pastry crust– has flour, butter, salt, shortening, and sugar. These ingredients form the crust’s base. Flour provides structure. Butter adds richness and flakiness. Salt enhances flavor. Sugar adds a hint of sweetness to complement the filling.
- Egg Wash– Used to brush on top of the pastry crust before baking, giving it a shiny, golden-brown finish.
- Spices, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, rose water, and vanilla, add warmth and flavor. They do so to the plantain filling.
- Sugar sweetens the plantain filling more. It balances the tartness of the lemon juice. It complements the plantains’ natural sweetness.
- Cream cheese– adds richness, creaminess, and tang to a plantain tart. It complements the sweetness of the plantains.
How to Make Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese
Prepare the Tart Crust
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Add the cubed butter and shortening. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work them into the flour. Stop when the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- Add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Filling
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- As the dough chills peel plantains and cut them into thirds.
- Place into a small pot with a little water, 2 tbsp vanilla, and 1 tsp rose water.
- When it starts to boil and is soft, pour out the water. Mash the plantains with 1/4 stick of butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and red food coloring.
- Set aside to cool.
3. Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.
- Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
4. Assemble the Tart
- Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thick.
- Cut into circles using whatever round object you have.
- Spoon some of the plantain filling into the center of each circle. Then, fold them in half to make a half-moon shape. Use your fingers to press the edges together. Finally, use a fork to seal the edges and make a nice design.
- Place the tarts on a baking sheet, and poke holes in the top so it does POP open.
- Brush with beaten egg and water. Brush with beaten egg and water, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
5. Bake
- Put the assembled tarts in the preheated oven. Bake them for 25-30 minutes or until the filling sets and the crust browns.
- Remove from the oven and let the tart cool completely before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the healthiest way to eat plantains?
Healthier cooking methods allow you to make this fruit a part of your regular diet.
- Steam-steamed plantains cook with minimal effort.
- Boil-boiled plantains make an easy side to lunches and dinners.
- Bake-baked plantains are an excellent alternative to fried plantains.
- Grill – You should grill delicious plantains with the skin on.
Can diabetics eat plantains?
Green plantains are starchy vegetables in a diabetes diet. They are high in carbs. Prepare them without added fat, sugar, or salt.
They are one of the best starchy vegetables. That’s what the American Diabetes Association says.
Are plantains inflammatory?
Plantains have inter-related anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidative, and neuromodulatory activities.
Is plantain good for blood pressure?
Potassium in foods such as plantain can prevent blockages in the blood vessels. It also prevents the hardening and narrowing of arteries.
Both potassium and salt leave the body in urine. So, one needs to eat foods with potassium daily. Potassium helps to reduce sodium.
Are plantains good for gout?
Eating plantains may help with gout and hyperuricemia. They do this by regulating many biological processes, cells, and molecular functions.
How do you cut plantains Jamaican style?
Cut off the ends, score the skin lengthwise, peel it, and slice it diagonally into thick pieces.
Are black plantains still good?
Yes, black plantains are still good to eat. They are ripe and often sweeter than green or yellow ones. They are perfect for recipes like fried ripe plantains.
Is cream cheese good for a diet?
Yes, in moderation. Cream cheese is high in fat and calories, so it’s best consumed in small portions as part of a balanced diet.
Is cream cheese healthier than butter?
It depends. Cream cheese has fewer calories than butter but is higher in saturated fat. Choosing between them depends on your dietary goals and preferences.
Is cream cheese good for gut health?
Not particularly. Cream cheese lacks live cultures. Fermented foods have them and are better for gut health.
More Jamaican Desserts You’ll Love!
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Wisdom
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Love him with all our heart, all our mind, all our soul, and all our strength. We have to perfect our love for Him.
Nothing else matters but what you do for Jesus Christ in this lifetime. We must prove our love by casting out fear and trusting in Him.
Keeping our minds stayed on Him by thinking about heavenly things and not the things of the world. Seeking first His kingdom and its righteousness and all else we need in life will be added to us.
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Live for God, for He is all that matters. Prove yourself to Him and forget about proving yourself to people.
Jamaican Plantain Tart with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup cold butter diced
- 1/4 cup shortening (chilled and diced)
- 1 egg (beaten with 1 tbsp water)
- 1/2 cup Ice-cold water just enough to form a dough
- 3 very ripe black plantains
- 1 cup white sugar to taste
- 4 tbsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp when boiling plantain
- 2 tbsp rose water 1 tsp when boiling plantain
- 1 tsp grated nutmeg
- 1 tbsp cinnamon powder
- For the filling
- 2 ripe plantains , peeled and sliced
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 8 oz cream cheese , softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
Instructions
Prepare the Tart Crust
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Add the cubed butter and shortening. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to work them into the flour until the mixture is coarse.
- Gradually add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
- Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Prepare the Filling
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- As the dough chills peel plantains and cut them into thirds.
- Place into a small pot with a little water, 2 tbsp vanilla, and 1 tsp rose water.
- As soon as it boils and is soft, pour out the water. Then, mash the plantains with 1/4 stick of butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, and red food coloring.
- Set aside to cool
Prepare the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.
- Add the egg and beat until incorporated.
Assemble the Tart
- Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thick.
- Cut into circles using whatever round object you have.
- Put a little of the plantain filling in the center of each circle. Then, fold it in half to make a half-moon shape. Use your fingers to press the edges together. Then, use a fork to seal the edges and make a nice design.
- Place the tarts on a baking sheet, and poke holes in the top so it does POP open.
- Brush with beaten egg and water. Brush with beaten egg and water, and sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake
- Put the assembled tarts in the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling sets and the crust browns.
- Remove from the oven and let the tart cool completely before serving.
Nutrition
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