Plantain Empanadas Stuffed with Ground Beef

Yields: 12 empanadas

Ingredients:

Meat filling:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small Spanish onion, cut into small dice
1 small carrot, peeled and shredded
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
½ medium red pepper, seeds and veins removed, cut into small dice
1 Roma tomato, peeled, seeds and pulp removed, cut into small dice
2 scallions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon pimento-stuffed olives, sliced
½ jalapeño pepper, seeds and veins removed, cut into small dice
2 tablespoons raisins
1 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 pound ground beef, 90% lean
Juice of ½ lime
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Plantain masa:

4 green plantains
1 medium white onion, peeled and cut in half
2 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 egg
Salt to taste
Canola oil for frying
Directions:

Meat filling:

1. In a large pan, heat oil at medium heat and add onion. Sauté for 3 minutes or until translucent. Add carrot and cook for additional 2–3 minutes.

2. Add garlic, red pepper, tomato, scallion, olives, jalapeño, raisins and tomato sauce. Cook for 5 minutes.

3. Add ground beef and cook until juices evaporate, approximately 8–10 minutes.

4. Add lime juice, parsley and cilantro. Mix well and remove from heat.

How to prepare the plantain masa:

1. Cut three plantains in half; do not peel.

2. In a large pot, add plantains, onion, garlic and salt to taste; boil at medium heat for 15–20 minutes. Remove from heat, leave in pan and cool to room temperature.

3. Grate the remaining raw plantain.

4. Combine cooked plantains, raw grated plantain, egg, butter and salt in a food processor. Mix until the masa acquires a soft and somewhat sticky texture.

5. Shape masa into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

6. Flatten masa into a thin sheet. Use a tortilla press or plantain press (tostonera) to cut masa into discs.

7. Place 1 tablespoon of meat filling in center of each masa disc. Fold over masa disc, and seal edges together carefully. Use fingers to gently press and seal the empanadas.

8. Heat oil in a large pan and fry empanadas for approximately 2–3 minutes on each side, turning them over until they are golden brown.

9. Place fried empanadas on a paper towel to remove excess oil.

Note: Uncooked empanadas can be wrapped in plastic and stored in the freezer for later use.

To learn more about me or my recipes, visit me at DenisseOller.com and at AARP, where I am a chef and nutrition expert.

Other recipes by Denisse:

Pastelón de Yuca y Pollo
Mango Pie
Pumpkin Fritters
Polvorosa de Pollo (Venezuelan-style Chicken Pot Pie)
Vegetarian Paella
Cod in Tomato Sauce
Mexican-Style Shrimp Ceviche
Pulled Chicken with Jalapeño-Honey Mustard Panini
The Mexican Tamale: A Delight for the Palate
Shrimp Asopao with Pigeon Peas