Authentic Pastelón- Puerto Rico

Post By: Samantha Peters
Photo By: Rebecca Jurkevich

Puerto Rico is an American Island that is in the Caribbean's. Puerto Rico is a huge tourist attraction. Puerto Rico is known for their caves and bioluminescence lakes all

those things are great, but Puerto Rico is not just known for

those things’ food is also important in Puerto Rico. One of the most known dishes there it is called Pastelón. I am going to teach you how to make it. Ingredients

• 7 tablespoons canola oil
• divided 4 ripe plantains peeled and sliced into 14-inch strips
• 1 pound ground sirloin
•  1 cup finely chopped yellow onion (about 1 onion)
• 1 cup finely chopped green bell pepper (about 1 bell pepper)
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
•  3 garlic cloves, minced 1 (.18-oz.)
• envelope sazón seasoning sin Achiote (without Annatto)
• 2 teaspoons adobo seasoning
•  2 teaspoons dried oregano
•  8 pimiento-stuffed green olives halved
•  1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup raisins
•  2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon salted butter
•  12 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 3 cups) divide
•  3 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
  
Preparation 

Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add one-third of plantain strips, and fry until golden brown and slightly crispy, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat procedure 2 more times with 4 tablespoons of the oil and remaining plantain strips. Wipe skillet clean.
Step 2
Stir together ground sirloin, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, sazón seasoning, adobo seasoning, and oregano in a large bowl until thoroughly combined. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in skillet over medium-high; add ground sirloin mixture, and cook, stirring often, until beef is browned, and vegetables are tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in olives, tomato sauce, raisins, and bay leaves; bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove and discard bay leaves.
Step 3
Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with butter. Layer one-third of plantain slices on bottom of pan. Top with half of sirloin mixture and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining one-third of plantain slices.
Step 4
Whisk together eggs and milk in a small bowl. Slowly pour egg mixture over casserole. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.
Step 5
Bake in preheated oven until top is golden brown and mixture is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Cut into 6 squares.
** Make sure you tell me if you try this reciepe**