A Caribbean recipe that combines the sweetness of ripe plantain with the salty flavor of seasoned meat and gratinéed cheese.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe bananas (yellow but firm)
- 1 pound of ground beef
- ½ chopped onion
- ½ chopped green or red bell pepper
- 2 crushed garlic cloves
- 1/4 cup of tomato sauce
- Salt, pepper, oregano to taste
- Oil (for frying or baking)
- Grated cheese (mozzarella, cheddar or whichever you prefer)
- Optional: olives, capers, marinade, sofrito, egg
Instructions
- Sauté the onion, garlic, and pepper in oil until tender.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in the tomato sauce and seasonings. Cook for 10–15 minutes.
- Peel the bananas and fry or bake them until golden brown.
- Make a lengthwise cut in each banana without separating it completely.
- Place them on a baking tray, fill with the meat and cover with cheese.
- Bake at 190°C for 10 minutes or until the cheese melts and browns.
Notes
- Choose ripe but firm bananas so they don’t break.
- They can be prepared in advance and baked just before serving.
- Try different combinations of cheeses to vary the flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 canoe
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg