Season 07 - Dinner / S07D20
Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna) with a Twist
Story
Pastelón was always a Sunday special in Don Luis’s kitchen—a stack of sweet, savory, and cheesy love. But one day, while slicing the plátanos maduros, he paused and smiled. *“Let’s give this one a little twist,”* he said. Instead of traditional ground beef, he stirred in seasoned shredded chicken with a splash of tomato sauce and a touch of pique. Layer after layer, he added cheese, plantains, and flavorful meat, finishing it off like a maestro. When it came out the oven golden and bubbling, the family didn’t just eat—they *cheered*. “Sometimes,” Don Luis chuckled, “tradition needs a remix.” Prep & Cook Time, Calories, and Cost
Ingredients
- For the Plantains
- 4 ripe plantains (yellow with black spots) 🍌
- Oil for frying
- Pinch of salt
- For the Filling (Twist)
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken (leftover rotisserie works great!) 🍗
- 0.25 cup sofrito ✨
- 0.25 cup tomato sauce
- 0.25 onion, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced 🧄
- 1 tsp adobo or to taste
- 1 tsp sazón
- Optional: a splash of hot sauce or pique
- For Assembly
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese
- 3 eggs (for layering) 🥚
- Fresh cilantro for garnish 🌿
Instructions
- 1Prep the Plantains:
- 2Peel and slice plantains lengthwise into 3–4 strips each.
- 3Fry until golden and sweet. Set aside on paper towels.
- 4Make the Filling:
- 5In a pan, sauté onion, garlic, and sofrito in a little oil.
- 6Add tomato sauce, sazón, adobo, and shredded chicken. Cook for 5–7 minutes. Adjust seasoning and spice.
- 7Assemble the Pastelón:
- 8Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- 9Grease a baking dish.
- 10Layer fried plantains, a bit of beaten egg, chicken filling, and cheese. Repeat until done, finishing with cheese.
- 11Bake for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- 12Garnish:
- 13Let rest 10 minutes, then top with fresh cilantro and serve warm.
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
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