A traditional Panamanian snack — Torrejitas de Maíz are golden corn fritters made from fresh sweet corn, crisp on the outside and tender within. Panamanians fry them up for breakfast, merienda or as a side for stews, often with a touch of anise for aroma. Eaten plain or with a drizzle of honey, they are little bites of corn-season nostalgia.
Torrejitas de Maíz
A traditional Panamanian snack — Torrejitas de Maíz are golden corn fritters made from fresh sweet corn, crisp on the outside and tender within.

Step by stepInstructions
- Pulse the corn kernels in a food processor until coarsely ground but not puréed.
- Beat the eggs with the milk, then stir in the corn, flour, baking powder, salt, and the sugar and anise if using, until a thick batter forms.
- Let the batter rest 10 minutes.
- Heat ½ inch of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter into the oil and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
- Drain on paper towels and serve warm, plain or with honey.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Do not over-process the corn — the fritters should have real corn texture. For a savory version, skip the sugar and anise and serve them beside guisado or fried fish.

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