Pastelón

3.8

3.8 out of 5 stars (based on 18 reviews)

20 min prep

60 min total

12 servings

Carrot Icon for Number of Ingredients Size

11 ingredients

This delicious pastelón is a total crowd-pleaser. It is a healthier version of the traditional Latino Holiday classic and cuts the fat but keeps the flavor. This version uses homemade sofrito...

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 large ripe plantains (about 3 pounds)
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
½ cup sofrito
2 tablespoons tomato paste
20 ounces lean ground turkey
1 cup small diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dry oregano
½ cup alcaparrado (pitted olives, capers and pimientos)
¼ cup raisins
8 ounces grated reduced fat mozzarella cheese

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Nutrition Facts

Calories

287 cals

Fat

14 g

Saturated Fat

5 g

Polyunsaturated Fat

2 g

Monounsaturated Fat

5 g

Carbohydrates

29 g

Sugar

14 g

Fiber

3 g

Protein

16 g

Sodium

509 mg

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 by 9 baking dish with a little olive oil or Pam and set aside.
Peel the plantains and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place pieces in a large pot, cover them with water and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until plantains are very soft, about 20 minutes. Drain and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
Place the plantains in a medium bowl, add ½ cup of the reserved water and 2 tablespoon of the olive oil and mash with a potato masher until you get a thick, smooth puree.
In the meantime, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sofrito and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until paste darkens. Add the turkey, tomatoes, oregano, alcaparrado, raisins and season with salt and black pepper. Stir frequently, breaking any lumps, for 8 to 10 minutes, until most of the liquid is evaporated. Set aside to cool.
Spread 1/2 of the mashed plantains evenly over the bottom of the dish. Top with the turkey filling, spreading it in an even layer, and then cover with the remaining half of the mashed plantains. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the top is lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Chef Tips

If your pastelon is part of a family celebration you can make the sofrito ahead of time and store it in the fridge or freezer until you need it. It’s delicious as a base for many dishes, not just this one.

Registered Dietitian Approved

Our recipes, articles, and videos are reviewed by our oncology-trained dietitians to ensure that each is backed with scientific evidence and follows the guidelines set by the Oncology Nutrition for Clinical Practice, 2nd Ed., published by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, a professional interest group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society

Pastelón