Pastelon de Platano Maduro | Dominican Sweet Plantain Casserole #bigmamacooks #pastelon

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey reduces fat while maintaining flavor.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: processed cheese

Nutritional yeast offers a cheesy flavor with fewer calories.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil is healthier with a high smoke point.

tomato sauce

🥗Healthier: homemade tomato puree

💰Cheaper: canned tomatoes

Homemade puree is fresher and lower in sodium.

Peel the sweet plantains and cut them into three pieces each.

In a pot, add the plantains and abundant water.

Before the water boils, add 1 cup of sugar and 2 tablespoons of honey.

Boil for 12 minutes, then drain the pot and allow the plantains to cool for 15 minutes to harden.

Add the cooled plantains back into the pot.

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Add 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of garlic powder to the plantains.

Use a hand mixer to mash the plantains until fluffy.

Spread half of the mash evenly across the bottom of a sprayed pan.

Spread the ground beef evenly as the middle layer.

Add one full bag of shredded cheese evenly on top of the beef.

Add the remaining plantain mash on top, spreading it evenly.

Top the final layer with another full bag of shredded cheese.

Clean the edges of the pan and place it in the oven uncovered for 35 minutes at 370°F.

After 35 minutes, turn off the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes before cutting into it.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: