Cartola

Cartola is a traditional dessert originating from Pernambuco, but popular across the country – it can be found both in restaurants and home kitchens. The name of the dish means top hat. It's made with sweetened and fried bananas in combination with cheese. The cheese should brown and bubble, but not melt, so queijo coalho cheese is most often used for this dish. In texture, it's like a firm feta, but without the saltiness in flavor. The bananas are cut lengthwise, then fried in butter, while the cheese is sprinkled with a combination of sugar and cinnamon before it's heated through. When served, the cheese goes on top of the bananas, and it's recommended to accompany the dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.