Season 10 - Dinner / S10D24
Puerto Rican Carne Frita con Tostones (Fried Pork and Plantains)
Story
One Sunday afternoon, the cousins were racing their bikes down the street, when they smelled something delicious floating from Don Luis’s backyard. There he was—wearing his signature jean-and-leather apron, flipping chunks of pork in a sizzling pan. “Smells like a party!” the kids shouted. Don Luis chuckled, “It *is* a party, every time we make carne frita.” As he plated the golden tostones, he winked and said, “In Puerto Rico, you don’t need a reason to make this. A good mood and some green plantains are all it takes.” The kids each grabbed a crispy bite, dipped it in garlic mojo, and declared it the *best bike pit stop ever*. 🚲💨 Time + 🍽️ Nutrition + 💵 Cost
Ingredients
- For the Carne Frita 🍖
- 2 lbs pork shoulder (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 tbsp adobo seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Oil for frying (canola or vegetable)
- For the Tostones 🍌
- 3 green plantains (peeled and sliced into 1-inch pieces)
- Salt to taste
- Oil for frying
- For Dipping Mojo 🧄 (Optional but tasty!)
- 3 cloves garlic (mashed)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp lemon or lime juice
Instructions
- 1Marinate the Pork 🧄
- 2In a bowl, mix pork cubes with adobo, garlic powder, oregano, vinegar, and olive oil. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes (or overnight for deeper flavor).
- 3Fry the Pork 🍳
- 4Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high. Fry pork in batches until golden brown and crispy on the outside (about 10–15 minutes). Drain on paper towels.
- 5Prepare the Tostones 🍌
- 6Heat oil in a separate pan. Fry plantain slices for about 3 minutes per side until lightly golden. Remove and flatten each piece using a tostonera or plate. Return to the oil and fry again until crispy. Sprinkle with salt.
- 7Make the Mojo (Optional) 🧄
- 8Mix garlic, olive oil, salt, and lemon/lime juice. Stir and serve on the side.
- 9Serve It Up! 🍽️
- 10Plate the pork next to the tostones and serve with the mojo dipping sauce. ¡Buen provecho!
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.
Read our mission →