Season 12 - Lunch / S12L05
Tostones with Pulled Pork and Cilantro Crema
Story
The first time Don Luis made tostones for his grandson, he said, *“You hear that crunch? That’s the sound of the island calling you home.”* 🌴 With a knowing smile and a flick of his trusty apron, he flattened green plantains like a pro. But today? We’re giving that crunch a twist — topping it with juicy pulled pork and a bright cilantro crema that sings louder than a coquí at sunset. 🐸🌅 In this episode, Don Luis gets help from the middle generation — his daughter, who brings the pork straight from the slow cooker. While she handles the pork, he shows the little one how to double-fry plantains just right. *“A golden crown for a king’s bite,”* he chuckles, handing over a tostone topped with smoky pork and drizzled crema. Three generations, one unforgettable bite. 💚 Time & Cost Info
Ingredients
- For the Tostones:
- 4 green plantains 🍌
- 2 cups vegetable oil 🛢️ (for frying)
- Salt 🧂 to taste
- For the Pulled Pork:
- 5 lbs pork shoulder 🐖
- 1 tsp cumin 🌿
- 1 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
- 1 tsp garlic powder 🧄
- Salt and pepper to taste 🧂
- 0.5 cup orange juice 🍊
- 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- For the Cilantro Crema:
- 0.5 cup sour cream 🍶
- 0.25 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 🌿
- 1 garlic clove 🧄
- Juice of 1 lime 🍋
- Salt to taste 🧂
Instructions
- 1Cook the Pork:
- 2Season pork with cumin, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- 3Heat olive oil in a pot, sear pork on all sides.
- 4Add orange juice, cover, and slow cook for 2–3 hours until tender.
- 5Shred pork with forks. Set aside.
- 6Make the Cilantro Crema:
- 7Blend sour cream, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt until smooth.
- 8Chill in the fridge while you fry the tostones.
- 9Fry the Tostones (Double Fry Method):
- 10Peel green plantains and cut into 1.5-inch pieces.
- 11Heat oil to 350°F. Fry plantains for 3 minutes until light golden. Remove and drain.
- 12Flatten each piece using the bottom of a cup or tostonera.
- 13Fry again for 2–3 minutes until crispy. Drain and season with salt.
- 14Assemble the Magic:
- 15Top each tostone with pulled pork.
- 16Drizzle cilantro crema over the top.
- 17Optional: garnish with a tiny cilantro leaf or a sprinkle of cotija cheese.
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 →