Piononos (Sweet Plantain and Ground Beef Rolls)

Ingredients

• For the Plantains:
• 3 ripe plantains (yellow with black spots), sliced lengthwise 🍌
• 0.5 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
• For the Picadillo (Beef Filling):
• 1 lb ground beef 🥩
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 0.5 onion, finely chopped 🧅
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 0.5 bell pepper, diced 🌶️
• 1 tsp adobo seasoning
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp cumin
• 0.5 cup tomato sauce 🍅
• 1 tbsp sofrito (optional, for extra flavor!) 🌿
• Assembly:
• 0.5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 🧀
• 2 eggs, beaten 🥚
• Toothpicks (to hold shape)

Instructions

1. 11️⃣ Prepare the Picadillo
2. 2Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté onions, garlic, and bell peppers until soft.
3. 3Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks.
4. 4Season with adobo, black pepper, and cumin, then stir in tomato sauce and sofrito. Simmer for 10 minutes.
5. 52️⃣ Fry the Plantains
6. 6Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium heat. Fry plantain slices until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
7. 73️⃣ Assemble the Piononos
8. 8Take a fried plantain slice and form it into a circle (like a cup). Secure with toothpicks.
9. 9Fill each cup with picadillo, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
10. 10Brush the outsides with beaten egg for a crispy finish.
11. 114️⃣ Bake & Serve
12. 12Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
13. 13Let cool slightly, remove toothpicks, and enjoy the sweet and savory magic! 🍽️