Platano Picadillo Pie Recipes

PICADILLO DE PLATANO

Steps:

• Simmer the plantain pieces in salted water over medium-high heat until tender. Once tender, drain, and allow to cool, then finely chop.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the beef, garlic, and onion, season with salt and pepper. Cook until the beef is crumbly and the onion is soft. Stir in the chopped plantain, cilantro, and tomato. Season with Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce; cook for about 10 minutes until everything is hot.

PICADILLO

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, saute onions, garlic, and pepper in olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ground beef and olives and continue stirring to break up and brown the meat. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. When beef has browned, add tomato sauce gradually while stirring. Cook 1 to 2 minutes longer to incorporate sauce.
• Serve with rice and beans or tortillas.

PLANTAIN PICADILLO PIE WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Heat oil in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add plantain slices and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Using slotted spoon, transfer slices to sheet of foil. Pat plantains with paper towels and cool. Reserve 2 tablespoons oil from skillet for filling.
• Line 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish with single layer of cooled plantains; reserve remaining for garnish. Using fingers, firmly press slices together to seal any gaps. Set crust aside.
• For filling:
• Heat reserved 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add beef and sauté until brown, breaking into small pieces with back of fork, about 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, raisins, green olives, oregano, cinnamon, cumin, and allspice and simmer until most liquid evaporates and filling is thick, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in cornmeal.
• Preheat oven to 450°F. Crumble half of queso fresco over crust, then spoon in picadillo filling and press to compact. Sprinkle evenly with remaining queso fresco. Bake pie until cheese is melted and filling is heated through, about 25 minutes. Garnish center of pie with sliced olives and some plantain slices. Cool 10 minutes and serve.
• *Queso fresco, also known as queso blanco, is available at some supermarkets and Latin markets. A mild feta cheese can be substituted.