Puerto Rican Sorullitos de Maiz: Crisp Cheesy Corn Sticks That Freeze for Snack Time

Bring the water, sugar, salt, and butter to a boil in a medium saucepan.

Serves 6 (makes about 24 sticks)

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups fine yellow cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar or Edam cheese
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 small clove garlic, grated
• 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Bring the water, sugar, salt, and butter to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the cornmeal in a steady stream while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until the mixture pulls away from the sides into a thick, smooth dough.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted and evenly combined. Let the dough cool 5 minutes, until just comfortable to handle.
4. Scoop about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough and roll between your palms into a stick about 8 cm long and 2 cm thick, slightly tapered at the ends. Set on a tray and repeat with the remaining dough.
5. Make the mayo-ketchup: stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, grated garlic, and hot sauce (if using) until smooth and pink. Chill until serving.
6. Heat 3 cm of oil in a deep skillet to 180°C. Fry the sticks in batches of 6 to 8, turning once, for 3 to 4 minutes until golden and crisp all over. Drain on paper towels.
7. Serve warm with the mayo-ketchup for dipping.
8. To freeze: lay the shaped, unfried sticks on a tray, freeze until solid, then bag. Fry straight from frozen, adding about 1 minute to the cooking time, for instant after-school snacks all month.
9. Sorullitos de maiz are Puerto Rico's answer to the mozzarella stick, sold hot from roadside kioskos along the beaches of Luquillo and served at every family gathering as a little something before the main meal. The name means 'little cigars,' a nod to their tapered shape, and the sweet-salty cornmeal crust with a stretchy cheese center is irresistible dunked in the island's signature mayo-ketchup. They are cheap, fast, and endlessly freezable, which makes them a lifesaver when a hungry crowd of kids comes through the door at four o'clock.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

• Calories: 390 kcal
• Protein: 9g
• Fat: 26g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 690mg