Pastelón (sweet Plantain "lasagna")

Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 15
• vegetable oil
• 6 -10 plantains, ripe with black spots, peeled and cut in half
• 3 -5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, minced
• 1 cubanelle pepper, minced
• 2 ajies dulces, minced (small sweet chile peppers)
• 1 habanero, minced, optional but good
• 1/2 cup minced fresh cilantro or 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley
• annatto oil (coconut is my choice) or vegetable oil (coconut is my choice) or coconut oil (coconut is my choice)
• 3 lbs ground beef (make a mix of all three) or 3 lbs ground turkey (make a mix of all three) or 3 lbs shredded lamb (make a mix of all three)
• 2 teaspoons powdered adobo seasoning (achiote)
• 2 tablespoons oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, yes more
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/3 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, cut in half
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 -3 cups monterey jack cheese or 2 -3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded or 2 -3 cups shredded cheddar cheese or 2 -3 cups shredded oaxaca cheese
• 5 -7 eggs, whisked
• 1/4 cup milk

Recipe

• 1 heat a large deep skillet add oil of choice, enough to generously cover the bottom of your pan. fry the plantains till they are a golden and just a little crispy on both sides. remove from pan and set aside on paper towel. repeat until all are fried and slightly crispy.
• 2 add annatto oil to the same skillet add the ground meat of choice, garlic, onions, peppers, cilantro and or parsley, cooking over medium heat till meat is browned.
• 3 add adobo, oregano, cumin, vinegar, bay leaf, olives, raisins, and tomato sauce. season with black pepper to taste and salt to taste. simmer 20 minutes. remove and discard bay leaf.
• 4 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 5 butter or oil using the coconut oil from the fried plantains a 9x12 casserole pan.
• 6 place half the plantain in a single layer and press down on them to fill all gaps.
• 7 top with half the meat mixture.
• 8 sprinkle half the cheese over the meat mixture.
• 9 press the remaining plantains to flatten.
• 10 place the flattened plantains on the cheese, top with remained meat mixture then cheese.
• 11 mix the eggs with the milk. pour the egg evenly over the the dish, let it sit for a few minutes allow the egg to soak inches.
• 12 if you like cheese like i do go ahead and sprinkle additional cheese on top.
• 13 bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• 14 let rest 15-20 minutes before slicing.