How to make Sweet Plantains Canoes

ripe plantains

🥗Healthier: zucchini

💰Cheaper: bananas

Zucchini can mimic the texture, while bananas offer sweetness.

vegetable oil

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Coconut oil adds flavor, while canola is more affordable.

brown sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: white sugar

Honey provides natural sweetness, while white sugar is cost-effective.

cinnamon

🥗Healthier: nutmeg

💰Cheaper: allspice

Nutmeg offers a similar warmth, while allspice is often less expensive.

Heat a saucepan over medium heat.

Add 1 pound of ground beef to the pan and break it up with a wooden spatula.

Add 1 tablespoon of sofrito to the meat and mix well.

Add 1 teaspoon of tomato paste and stir.

Season with adobo seasoning and salt to taste.

Add 1/2 can of tomato sauce and sauté the mixture.

Cover the pan and cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the meat is fully cooked.

Remove the meat from heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Peel the plantains and cut them in half lengthwise, leaving the skin on one half.

Place the plantains back in their skins and set aside.

In another saucepan, heat oil for deep-frying.

Remove the skin completely from the second plantain and slice it into pieces.

Fry the plantain pieces in the oil until golden brown, adjusting the heat to medium to ensure they cook through.

Optionally, add cheese to the fried plantains and let it melt.

Remove the baked plantains from the oven and let them cool slightly.

Carefully open the baked plantains with a knife to create a canoe shape.

Fill the plantain canoes with the cooked ground beef mixture.

Optionally, scramble 1 egg and add it to the ground beef-filled plantains.

Return the filled plantains to the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, checking for melted cheese or cooked egg as needed.

Remove the plantains from the oven and serve.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary