My plantain pie story is a very unique one. Read on and you'll see what I mean.
A wonderfully satisfying meal does not come in a can of processed food; it comes from fresh living food. Many of us would agree that many of our Caribbean staples, such as plantain, sweet potato, dasheen, etc. can be quite satisfying. I love plantain, but it was my friend's idea to make a plantain pie. Now, I am excited to share this recipe with you all, especially people who thought the only thing that can be done with plantain is to fry it.
Most people would consider plantain too sweet to make a pie, but it is in fact a popular ingredient for a pie throughout the Caribbean. It is especially popular in Latin American countries where you would find similar recipes like the one I am posting today. It is called “pastelon de platano”. Yes, I know most people prefer to fry their plantain, but I encourage you to consider making a plantain pie the next time you get your hands on some plantain.
You will however need semi-ripe plantains. It is firm enough to handle and not too sweet. Not everyone would like a sweet pie, so make sure you use semi-ripe plantains.
I am happy to mention that this is a gluten free alternative for lasagna for the mere fact that the plantain is cut in strips and used much like you would use lasagna. The pie has minced meat in the middle however, if you want, you can substitute the minced meat with soya chunks or other vegetables.
I always feel you can make a recipe your own by adjusting it to suit your needs and preferences. You should not limit yourself. The reward is a wonderfully satisfying meal for the whole family. So, here is plantain pie.
A Plantain Pie Recipe
PLANTAIN PIE
4 medium sized plantain, semi ripe
oil for frying
1 lb minced meat chicken or beef
1/2 cup green seasoning
3 cloves garlic,minced
1 small onion, sliced
6 leaves chadon beni, chopped
1 tsp salt, divided
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup evaporated milk
2 1/2 cups cheese, grated
Peel and slice the plantains lengthways.
Place in a bowl and sprinkle a 1/2 tsp of salt.
Mix and set aside 5 minutes.
Over a medium flame fry 5 seconds on both sides then drain.
Season the minced chicken with green seasoning, chadon beni, 1/2 tsp salt, onion and garlic.
While cooking add the tomato paste and soy sauce.
Cook for 20 – 25 minutes. Adjust salt if necessary.
Note: Before we started layering we averaged that the pie would make about three layers so decided to separate the meat.
Layer a greased baking dish with plantain followed by the meat.
…….and a few sprinkles of cheese.
Continue layering until all ingredients are used up.
Note: Make sure to reserve some of the cheese for the topping.
….pour the evaporated milk…
…..Then sprinkle the rest of cheese over the top.
Bake for 30 mins at 350°F. Serve cool.
Hope you all liked my trini plantain pie.
Epilogue….
This is where things get interesting. I never took this recipe seriously and as such didn't think much of it. Interestingly enough I found out by mistake that this post was shared virally on facebook …and the shares spread like wildfire to thousands of people. This just goes to show that sometimes it's not what you think at all but what the fans think of your recipe.
Plantain Pie
Ingredients
- 4 medium sized plantain semi ripe
- oil for frying
- 1 lb minced meat chicken or beef
- 1/2 cup green seasoning
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small onion sliced
- 6 leaves chadon beni chopped
- 1 tsp salt divided
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 1/2 cups cheese grated
Instructions
- Peel and slice the plantains lengthwise.
- Place in a bowl and sprinkle a 1/2 tsp of salt.
- Mix and set aside 5 minutes.
- Over a medium flame fry 5 seconds on both sides then drain.
- Season the minced chicken with green seasoning, chadon beni, 1/2 tsp salt, onion and garlic.
- While cooking add the tomato paste and soy sauce.
- Cook for 20 – 25 minutes. Adjust salt if necessary.
- Note: Before we started layering we averaged that the pie would make about three layers so decided to separate the meat.
- Layer a greased baking dish with plantain followed by the meat and a few sprinkles of cheese.
- Continue layering until all ingredients are used up.
- Note: Make sure to reserve some of the cheese for the topping.
- Pour the evaporated milk then sprinkle the rest of cheese over the top.
- Bake for 30 mins at 350°F. Serve cool.
Ah gone 🙂
Interesting
Looks delicious☺
Never seen this before. Would love to give it a try.
Never had it
Had a plantain pie before and it was great. looking forward to trying this one.
this is new! never heard of this
Experiments brings great recipes but first you got to have the taste good and presentation factor locked. It’s how new dishes are born.
Love it, its a good combination 😀
Yummy – looks delicious.
Well Felix ah ent able nah. Now this is ah first fuh me.
Carlene Greig what do you think?
Nah
Lol…I still might try it tho
This has never occurred to me, not in my wildest dreams. Now I don’t think I want to eat anything else! Except maybe a bowl of sweet potato corn chowder along with it.
Never had it but it looks good.
This reminds me of those plantain-wrapped ground beef hors-d’oeuvres I obsessed with at parties as a kid. Except, this poses an even greater threat to my blood sugar.
I bet it tastes great, though.
I’d ignore the part about using only semi-ripe plantain, though.
I have made this before. Was introduced to it by someone from Dominican Republic. It is really good. Only difference, I mashed the ripe plantains, seasoned it added a little cheese and milk but have to work fast because it gets stiff as the mixture cools. Like a shepherd pie but using plantain instead of potato.
No thank you
Tastes lovely
This I have to try
I ate something similar in santo Domingo it is very nice
Plantain Pie I must try this never had it
What never had that, looks delicious.
Iz Booze
0_0
Looks very interesting! 🙂
I’ve used plaintains in moussaka before n it tasted really yummy.ive also tasted plaintains n sweet potatoe pie with cinnamon n ginger n its yummy.this plaintains pie looks yummy too.
I like dis and I wuld like to try it but can I use corn mile
I guess you can but the experimenting is all up to you.
I don’t have minced chicken but I do have two tins of corned beef…I wonder how this would taste with the corned beef instead of minced chicken? hmmm…
Allo Felix, I wonder if boiling the plantain slices instead of frying would alter the taste drastically?
Oh boi I made this pie today for lunch.tasted so great very delicious and appetizing.thanks for the recipe.
You’re welcome.
Oh boi this is so,so delicious peoples.I did it last Sunday for lunch.tasted great.my daughter loves it.
Ahhhhh must try???? Cook up when I touch down Sharice Tonge Joshua Kyle Frontin
Yeesssss?
Looks so good omg
Can you boil the plaintains instead of frying
You could the consistency we’re looking for is semi cooked.
Vegan version if possible?
I promise to work on one for the vegan readers.