Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran rice and mora leaf patties with fresh cheese center and roasted tomato sesame sauce
Golden, tender patties made with cooked rice, chopped mora leaves, and a fresh cheese center, served with a homemade roasted tomato, onion, and toasted sesame sauce. An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors.
Ingredients
- 300 g cooked white rice (cold or at room temperature)
- 80 g mora leaves (lavadas and chopped finely)
- 120 g fresh cheese (cut en 8 cubes)
- 1 unit egg (for ligar the mezcla)
- 40 g rice flour (more extra si hace falta ajustar the mezcla)
- 100 g white onion (50 g grated for the mezcla and 50 g for the sauce)
- 6 g garlic (chopped; mitad for mezcla and mitad for sauce)
- 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
- 1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 g ground cumin (for the sauce)
- 400 g ripe tomato (whole or en mitades)
- 18 g sesame seeds (tostado)
- 60 ml vegetable oil (divided for frying and for the sauce)
- 120 ml water (for ajustar the sauce)
- 80 g radishes (sliced finas, for acompañar)
- 15 ml lime juice (for the radishes)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the radishes)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the tomatoes and 50 g of onion on a baking tray, add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and roast for 18 minutes until the tomatoes are very soft and lightly charred around the edges.
- 2
2. While the vegetables roast, boil or steam the mora leaves for 2 minutes. Drain them very well, let them cool slightly, and chop finely so they do not make the mixture too wet.
- 3
3. In a bowl, combine the cooked rice, chopped mora leaves, egg, 50 g of grated onion, half of the chopped garlic, rice flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Press lightly with a spoon or your hand so the rice starts to bind together. If the mixture feels too loose, add a little more rice flour.
- 4
4. Divide the mixture into 8 portions. Take one portion, flatten it in your palm, place a cube of fresh cheese in the center, and close it to form a thick patty. Repeat until you have 8 patties.
- 5
5. Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Set aside.
- 6
6. Remove the roasted tomatoes and onion from the oven. Blend them with the remaining garlic, toasted sesame seeds, cumin, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and water until you get a slightly thick sauce.
- 7
7. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the blended sauce and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly. Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- 8
8. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the patties for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden outside and hot in the center. Work in batches so they do not overcrowd the pan.
- 9
9. In a small bowl, combine the radishes with the lime juice, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt. Let them sit for 5 minutes to lightly pickle.
- 10
10. Serve the patties hot with the roasted tomato sesame sauce on top or on the side, along with the seasoned radishes.
Chef tips
Drain the mora leaves very well and use cold cooked rice so the patties hold their shape better. For a crispier texture, let the shaped patties rest for 10 minutes before frying.
Substitutions
You can substitute the mora leaves with spinach or Swiss chard. Fresh cheese can be replaced with queso duro blando or low-moisture mozzarella. If you do not have rice flour, use fine masa harina, although the flavor will change slightly.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ratings & reviews
Sign in to rate this recipe
Sign inRelated recipes
Salvadoran sweet plantain and red bean cakes with queso duro blando and roasted tomato chirmol
55 min
Salvadoran corn and squash fritters with fresh curd center, fire-roasted tomato sauce, and crisp radish salad
55 min
Salvadoran corn and mora herb fritters with seared fresh curd, tomatillo sauce, and sesame
55 min
Salvadoran rice and chipilín cakes with fresh cheese, carrot slaw, and creamy roasted tomato sauce
50 min
Salvadoran purple corn bites with black beans, fresh cheese, and warm cashew apple sauce
55 min
Salvadoran Yuca and Quesillo Cakes with Fresh Cucumber and Mint Salad
55 min