Chiktay Aranso Stuffed Plantain Cups Recipes

PLANTAIN CUPS (TOSTONE CUPS)

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with warm salted water to cover the plantains. Peel green plantain and cut into 2 inch pieces. Put the cut plantains into the water and soak.
• Heat oil to 375 degrees F.
• Remove plantains from water, shake off excess water and fry the plantain pieces for 5 to 6 minutes. Remove the plantains and let cool for a couple of minutes.
• Using the Rivera Tostonera designed to make cups put fried plantains lengthwise into mold. If you don't have a Tostonera maker take 2 mini muffin pans and put fried plantains in the mold of 1 pan lengthwise and with the other muffin pan press down firmly to form a cup.
• Carefully remove the cup and re-fry the plantain cup in the hot oil until golden brown.
• Remove the cups and drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.
• Serve warm.

STUFFED PLANTAINS

Steps:

• Cut plantain into 3 pieces, keeping the peel on.
• Bring a pot of water to a boil and boil plantain until peel starts to bubble, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool until easily handled. Peel and mash plantain. Separate into 3 equal-sized golf balls. Place each ball into a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 6-inch round. Place 1 1/2 tablespoon Cheddar cheese into each round, fold over, and pinch edges together.
• Heat oil in a medium size skillet on medium-high heat. Pan-fry stuffed plantains until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip plantains and fry for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

TOSTONES RELLENOS (STUFFED PLANTAIN CUPS)

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fry the plantains in the preheated oil until golden, but not brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Smash each piece of plantain in a tostonero or with the bottom of a small dish to make a small disk, then shape the disk into a small cup. Return the plantain cups to the hot oil, and fry until golden and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes more. Season with garlic salt. Set aside.
• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef. Season with salt. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the sofrito, tomato sauce, water, sazon seasoning, and olives. Reduce heat to medium-low, then simmer until liquid is reduced, about 15 minutes.
• Fill the plantain cups with the beef mixture and top with Cheddar cheese. Arrange the cups on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted, 5 to 8 minutes.

CHIKTAY ARANSO STUFFED PLANTAIN CUPS

Steps:

• Remove the saltiness of the herring by placing it in a bowl of cold water and allowing it to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Drain the water, then place the herring in a pot of water and boil for 10 to 15 minutes. The herring should taste no more than mildly salty; if it is still salty, boil for another 5 minutes and drain. Shred the herring with 2 forks, removing any large bones.
• Pour the olive oil into a large skillet and set over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and red onions and cook, covered, for 2 minutes. Add the green pepper, red pepper, orange pepper and chopped Scotch bonnet chiles and cook, covered, stirring frequently, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute.
• Add the shredded herring. Puncture the whole Scotch bonnet chile with the 2 cloves and add it to the skillet. Add the chicken bouillon, adobo seasoning, garlic powder, thyme, some parsley and lime juice. Mix everything well. Cover and let cook down for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Discard the whole Scotch bonnet and the thyme sprig.
• Pour the frying oil into a large skillet and set over medium-high heat. Peel the plantains and cut each into 4 to 5 pieces. Fry the pieces until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Remove from the pan and press each piece of plantain flat; you can use a plantain press or the bottom of a small heavy pan or a plate. Mold the plantains into cup shapes (you can use a lemon squeezer or a tostonera with a rounded shape). Carefully fry the plantain cups again for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain the cups on a paper towel-lined plate or on a wire rack and sprinkle lightly with salt (optional).
• Fill the fried plantain cups with the smoked herring mixture. Garnish with diced tomato, avocado and sour cream if using and enjoy!