pastelon
Next Dish: Majboos
Pastelón is a traditional Puerto Rican dish often referred to as Puerto Rican lasagna. It is composed of layers of sweet plantains, ground meat, cheese, and sometimes raisins and olives, all baked together. The meat is typically seasoned with various spices, and the dish is often served with rice and beans. Pastelón is popular throughout the Caribbean and in parts of the United States with large Puerto Rican communities.
Recipe
Ingredients:
3 ripe plantains
1 lb ground beef
1 onion
1 bell pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup shredded cheese
2 eggs
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for cooking
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Peel and slice the plantains into long thin strips. Fry them in a pan with olive oil until they are golden brown and set them aside.
In the same pan, add the ground beef, finely chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic. Cook until the beef is browned and the vegetables are soft.
Add the tomato sauce to the beef mixture and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
In a bowl, beat the eggs and set them aside.
In a baking dish, arrange a layer of the fried plantains at the bottom. Then add a layer of the beef mixture and a layer of shredded cheese.
Repeat the layers until all the ingredients are used, ending with a layer of plantains on top.
Pour the beaten eggs over the top layer of plantains.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
Let the pastelón cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.