Get Adrienne's Family Recipe for Pastelon de Platano Maduro

It's Hispanic Heritage Month, which has us thinking of family traditions, fond memories...and home cooking! Empire Girls star Adrienne Bailon is here to share her mom's recipe for some classic Puerto Rican comfort food. "This is like our Puerto Rican version of lasagna," Adrienne told us. "It's one of my favorite dishes, and this is my mom's recipe."

Pastelon de Platano Maduro
4 ripe platanos (yellow or sweet)
1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
1/4 C sofrito
2 Tbsp canola or olive oil
1/4 C chopped onions
1/4 C chopped green peppers
1/4 C chopped tomatoes
1/2 can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp sliced olives with pimentos
1 tsp capers
1 tsp salt (to your own taste)
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic (minced)
1 C French cut string beans (optional)
2 eggs slightly beaten with 2 Tbsp water
 
In a skillet heat up the oil, add the sofrito, peppers, onions, garlic and tomatoes, and cook for about 2 or 3 minutes. Add the meat and cook until done, breaking down the meat as you go. Add tomato sauce, olives and capers and salt and black pepper. Stir and set aside. Fry the plantanos. Then start layering portions of: plantanos, meat, string beans. Repeat layers as you would for a lasagna. Pour the eggs to cover the pastelon. Put into oven at 400 degrees for about 20 mins.

Serve with rice or salad.

Check back later for a family recipe from Julissa!