Puerto Rican Green Plantain Tamales - Guanimes de Plátanos Verdes [Episode 332]

green plantains

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: potatoes

Zucchini provides a similar texture with fewer calories.

pork

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: ground turkey

Chicken is leaner and ground turkey is often less expensive.

Peel and cut 3 green plantains into small pieces.

Soak the plantains in salty water with about 2 tablespoons of salt for 30 minutes.

Drain the plantains completely and place them in a food processor.

Add 1/2 cup of coconut milk, 1 teaspoon of regular salt, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of anise seeds to the food processor.

Mix everything together until it becomes a paste.

Place a piece of parchment paper on your working surface, then place a piece of banana leaf on top.

Scoop about 1/2 cup of the mixture and place it in the center of the banana leaf.

Form the mixture into a cylinder shape.

Tie the ends of the banana leaf tightly with kitchen twine.

Place the wrapped guanimes in about 12 cups of boiling water with 2 tablespoons of salt.

Let them boil for about 40 minutes.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: