Season 12 - Lunch / S12L02
Alcapurrias with Cilantro Mojo Sauce
Story
When Don Luis was a boy growing up in Puerto Rico, there was one sound that would always make him sprint down the street barefoot—*the sizzle of alcapurrias hitting hot oil.* 🏃♂️💨 In the afternoons, neighborhood vendors would roll up in carts, the smell of crispy plantain and yautía fritters calling every hungry soul like a trumpet at a fiesta. 🎺🎉 But today, Don Luis isn’t just chasing memories—he’s creating new ones. In his rustic-modern kitchen, with his branded jean and leather apron proudly worn, he teaches the younger generation the magic of Alcapurrias. And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, he unveils a bright green cilantro mojo that makes the whole dish sing like a plena tune on a warm Caribbean evening. 🌿🥁☀️ Time, Calories & Cost
Ingredients
- For the Alcapurrias
- 2 green plantains 🍌
- 1 lb yautía (malanga or taro root), peeled and grated 🥔
- 1 tsp salt 🧂
- 1 tbsp annatto oil (achiote) or vegetable oil with paprika 🌶️🛢️
- 1 tsp garlic powder 🧄
- For the Filling
- 0.5 lb ground beef or pork 🐄🐖
- 0.25 cup tomato sauce 🍅
- 1 tbsp sofrito 🧅🌿
- 1 tsp sazón with annatto 🧂
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Cilantro Mojo Sauce
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro 🌿
- 2 garlic cloves 🧄
- 0.5 cup olive oil 🫒
- 1 tbsp vinegar 🍋
- Pinch of salt 🧂
- Optional: 1 tsp lime juice 🍈
Instructions
- 1Prep the Masa (Dough)
- 2Peel and grate the yautía and plantains using a fine grater. 🌀
- 3Mix them in a bowl with salt, garlic powder, and annatto oil until it forms a smooth paste. Chill in the fridge while you prep the filling. ❄️
- 4Make the Filling
- 5In a pan, sauté sofrito until fragrant. Add ground meat and cook until browned.
- 6Stir in tomato sauce, sazón, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until mixture thickens slightly. Set aside to cool. 🥄
- 7Form the Alcapurrias
- 8On a piece of parchment or banana leaf, spread 2–3 tbsp of masa into an oval.
- 9Add a spoonful of filling in the center, then fold and seal into a torpedo shape using the paper or your hands. 🚀
- 10Fry
- 11Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Carefully fry alcapurrias in batches for 5–6 minutes each side or until crispy and golden. Drain on paper towels. 🧻🔥
- 12Make the Cilantro Mojo
- 13In a blender, combine cilantro, garlic, oil, vinegar, salt, and lime juice. Blend until smooth and drizzle over hot alcapurrias. 🌿💚
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 →