Season 08 - Lunch / S08L25
Mofongo Tostadas with Pickled Onions
Story
Back in his younger days, Don Luis would watch his grandmother pound plantains with a wooden pilón, the soft thumps echoing through the breezy Puerto Rican kitchen. Mofongo was a family ritual—mashed plantains, crispy chicharrón, and garlic dancing in olive oil like a tropical symphony 🎶🍌🧄. One day, while his grandson was munching on crunchy tostadas, Don Luis had an idea. *“¿Y si combinamos los dos?”* he said with a wink. And just like that, the *Mofongo Tostadas* were born—a bold remix of tradition with a crispy twist, layered with tangy pickled onions and a sprinkle of magic. Now they make them together every Sunday, laughing and competing to see who can stack theirs the highest.
Ingredients
- 3 green plantains 🍌
- 1 cup pork rinds or chicharrón 🐷✨
- 3 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
- 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- Salt to taste 🧂
- 6 small tostada shells 🌽
- 0.5 cup pickled red onions (see below) 💖🧅
- Quick Pickled Onions:
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced 🔪🧅
- 0.5 cup white vinegar 🧪
- 0.5 cup water 💧
- 1 tbsp sugar 🍬
- 1 tsp salt 🧂
Instructions
- 1Pickle the Onions:
- 2In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Bring to a simmer and pour over the sliced red onions in a heatproof jar. Let sit while you prepare the mofongo (the longer, the better!) 🧅🫙
- 3Prepare the Plantains:
- 4Peel and slice the plantains into thick chunks. Boil in salted water for 15–20 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and let cool slightly. 🍌🔥
- 5Make the Mofongo:
- 6In a large bowl or pilón, mash the cooked plantains with chicharrón, garlic, olive oil, and salt. You want it chunky but mashable—like a delicious, garlicky paste 💥🥄
- 7Assemble the Tostadas:
- 8Spoon generous scoops of mofongo onto each tostada shell. Top with vibrant pickled onions and a drizzle of olive oil for flair. 💫🧅
- 9Optional flair:
- 10Add a sprinkle of queso fresco 🧀 or a dollop of sour cream if desired.
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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