Best Ground Beef Plantain Lasagna Recipes
PUERTO RICAN PLANTAIN LASAGNA
THE TYPICAL name for this Puerto Rican dish is Pastelon; layered fried plantains with beef Bolognese and cheese. I have created a healthier vegetarian version by baking the plantains and using Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo instead of beef Bolognese. Most Latin countries have their unique version of chorizo, which is a type of spicy sausage. Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo is a Mexican version that has the consistency of ground beef combined with chile and hot spices. It's important to use ripe plantains for this dish, because when ripened they are sweeter and softer. This dish is a type of fusion where Italian meets Latino for combustible flavor that is sweet and spicy blending together into a culinary bliss.
Provided by Vegetarian Hostess
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h20m
Yield 8-10 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Coat a large baking pan with cooking spray.
- Arrange cut plantains into a single layer. Lightly salt and coat with cooking spray. The salt will bring out the sweet flavor of the plantains.
- Bake for 7 minutes on each side, or until plantains are golden brown and very tender.
- Once done, set aside to be used later to layer the lasagna.
- Lower the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Heat oil in a large saucepot over a medium high flame. Add onions; sauté until onions are tender. Add pepper and stir for another few minutes until peppers soften.
- Add the Soy Chorizo and 1-cup tomato sauce to the mixture and stir well. Reduce heat to a medium flame and simmer covered for another 5-7 minutes.
- To assemble Pastelon: In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan, spread remaining ¼ cup tomato sauce. Then layer with plantains. Spread chorizo mixture on top of plantains. Layer with a handful of cheese. Repeat layers until the last layer is cheese. You will most likely get three layers.
- In a separate bowl, thoroughly beat eggs with milk. Pour evenly over the Pastelón. Let sit for a minute allowing the egg mixture to soak inches Top off with just a bit more cheese.
- Cover and bake for 20 minutes. Remove cover and let bake another 7 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 444.4, Fat 13.2, SaturatedFat 6.6, Cholesterol 105, Sodium 389.9, Carbohydrate 76.8, Fiber 6.2, Sugar 36.4, Protein 13.1
PASTELóN
Pastelón is a layered Puerto Rican casserole of plantains, cheese and picadillo, a tomato-based ground beef mixture seasoned with onions, peppers, herbs and spices. The dish is often referred to as Puerto Rican lasagna, and to say there is only one real recipe for pastelón would be like saying there's only one true lasagna. Variations abound! Some cooks boil the plantains and make a mash with taro; others fry them until they're sweet and crisp. Nearly any mild, meltable cheese may be used, though there is debate over whether or not to add raisins. This recipe is adapted from from Natalia Vallejo, chef and owner of Cocina al Fondo in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She doesn't serve pastelón at her restaurant, but she grew up eating it. Her version includes fried plantains, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and raisins, because she says "Puerto Ricans like that sweet-and-salty mix."
Provided by Daniela Galarza
Categories dinner, casseroles, meat, vegetables, main course
Time 2h
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Prepare the plantains: Line a sheet pan with paper towels; set aside. Cut off the ends of each plantain. With the tip of a knife, score plantains lengthwise and peel off the skin. Using a serrated knife or chef's knife, cut each plantain in half lengthwise, and then halve again lengthwise so you end up with 24 long slices. (If some of the slices break or are unevenly shaped, that's OK! Carry on.)
- In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 cup oil over medium-high to between 350 and 375 degrees. Working with 4 to 6 slices at a time, depending on what fits, fry plantains until deep golden brown, turning halfway through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer fried plantains to the prepared sheet pan and cook remaining plantains; set aside. (Let oil cool, then strain and reserve for another use.)
- Prepare the sofrito: Put onion, bell pepper, ají dulce chiles (if using), garlic, cilantro and culantro (if using), in a food processor; blend until it becomes a rough, wet purée. (You should have about 1 cup sofrito).
- Prepare the picadillo: In a large, heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium until it shimmers. Add the sofrito and cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and stir in the salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is evenly cooked and no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat. Push meat mixture to one side, and carefully tilt skillet so that the fat from the meat collects at the bottom of the tilted pan; spoon off and discard as much of this excess fat as you can.
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chopped tomatoes, wine and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes fall apart and the liquid starts to reduce, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in olives and raisins, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Picadillo can be made up to 2 days in advance. Rewarm it in a pan on the stove before proceeding with recipe.)
- Prepare the pastelón: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and set aside.
- Lay half the fried plantain slices along the bottom of the baking dish crosswise, piecing any broken pieces together to form an even layer. (If there are small gaps in the plantain layer, this is OK.) Top with half the picadillo (about 2 cups), smoothing it into an even layer, then sprinkle half the cheese on top in an even layer. Repeat with another layer of plantains then the remaining picadillo. Pour the whisked eggs evenly over the picadillo layer and spread it so it settles down into the pastelón. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake the pastelón until the egg is cooked, the cheese is melted and the layers are set, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot.
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