Explore the rich tastes of Puerto Rican Cuisine, where every dish tells a story of culture, tradition, and tropical bliss.
Whether, one of the best ingredient in Puerto Rican cooking is the sweet plantain, it is adding both sweetness and delicious texture in various dishes.
Also, Its versatility maker this recipe much better than others. When you are searching for a time saving and healthy meal which work also a dish of celebration for serving at family celebration or enjoyment, these Piononos are absolutely perfect for any program or occassion.
However, the most beautiful thing about Puerto Rican recipes is that they create the full of enrichment cultural heritage of the island into your kitchen, which helping you experience the island’s authentic tastes without any travel.
So, in case you are ready to taste the flavor of Puerto Rico in your Kitchen, come and start to trying on these easy and simple to make, full of flavor Piononos which will have everyone asking for the recipe.
The Ingredient List:
For making these sweet plantain Piononos, you feel necessity the following ingredients:
- Sweet Plantains (2 large, ripe)
- Ground Turkey (1 lb., lean)
- White Sweet Onion (1 medium, finely chopped)
- Green Pepper (1, diced)
- Tomato Sauce (1 cup)
- Pimientos (2 to 3, chopped)
- Bay Leaf (1)
- Sazón (1 packet)
- Beef Bouillon (1 cube or 1 teaspoon of concentrate)
- All-Purpose Seasoning (1 teaspoon)
- Garlic Powder (1 teaspoon)
- Black Pepper (½ teaspoon)
- Monterey Jack Cheese (1 cup, shredded)
- Parsley Flakes (1 teaspoon)
- Oregano Flakes (1 teaspoon)
- Olive Oil (for frying)
- Egg Wash (1 egg, beaten)
Alternatives for Dietary Limitations:
- Vegan Option: Replace ground turkey with plant-based ground meat or hearty lentils. You can use a free from dairy cheese as a opt.
- Gluten-Free Option: It is a completely free of Gluten Recipe, still you have to check that the seasonings and bouillon have not hold any Gluten.
- Dairy-Free: You can use cheese which free of Dairy and avoid any egg to make a free of dairy variation.
Stepwise Instructions:
You have to ready all of your Ingredients before entering the process to make these flavorful sweet plantain Piononos recipe.
Step 1: Get the Sweet Plantains Ready
You have to begin by removing the peel of the sweet plantains. For doing this, you have to cut off both ends of every single plantain, and then cut a slit along the side of the skin.
Be careful to remove the peel, you have to make sure to take care not to break the plantain. If peeled, you have to slice the plantains into equal sized slices, like ½ inch thick all of them.
Tip: You have to make sure the plantains are ripe, not overly green, for the perfect balance of sweetness and texture of the dish. The riper they become, the sweeter the taste.
Step 2: Fry the Plantains
By heating a deep pan with enough olive oil for frying the plantains. When the oil is hot (you have to test the temperature by dropping a small piece of plantain into the oil) be careful to add the plantains.
Although, when it sizzles, it’s ready. Carefully add the plantain slices in batches, frying them till they turn into golden and tender. May be this take about 3 to 4 minutes per side to be perfect.
When frying is complete, you have to take the plantains from the oil and transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels or fresh tissue paper to absorb the excess oil.
Tip: Carefully do the steps and not overheat the pan when frying the plantains, because overheating may occur the plantains become burn or soggy instead of crispy.
Step 3: Make the Picadillo Filling
However, do that in a separate pan, warm a tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. After that, add the finely cut white sweet onion and green pepper, sautéing them till they become tender and balsamic.
Well, this will take about 3 to 4 minutes or few minutes more. You have to add the ground turkey to the pan and sprinkle with garlic powder, black pepper, all-purpose of seasoning, and the Sazón packet fully. You can break the turkey into small crumbles with a wooden spoon when it cooks properly.
When the turkey is cooked through, you have to stir in the tomato sauce, pimientos, and bay leaf in it. Also you can crumble in the beef bouillon and allow the mixture to gradually simmer for 10 to 15 minutes fully.
Moreover, cook the sauce down just enough to create a flavorful and moist filling for the plantains.
Tip: You should remember about Bay leaf; because it brings a mild, earthy scent to the filling.
Step 4: Assemble the Piononos
You have to preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to do this step. Gathering the Piononos, you have to take one fried plantain slip and which normally flatten with the back of a spoon or your hands or any other flatten things.
Splash a bountiful amount of picadillo onto the plantain, after that carefully roll it up, which seems like a small pinwheel. Set the rolled plantain in a muffin tin or sized box, it will help to maintain its shape and size.
Keep repetition this procedure for the remaining plantain slices and picadillo.
Tip: When you are facing problem to roll the plantains, no need to be worried! By pressing normally, get them together, and this will help to bake into desired shape all of them.
Step 5: Add the Cheese Topping
When all of the plantain rolls are in the muffin tin or baking tin, you have to top every single one with a sprinkle of chopped Monterey Jack cheese. The chopped cheese will melt quickly and turn into a delicious, golden crust on top of the Piononos after baking.
Step 6: Bake
You have to brush of the top of the plantain rolls with the egg wash for giving them a golden, crispy finish perfectly. After that, set the muffin tin in the oven and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, Wait till the cheese melted and turn into bubbly amazingly.
Tip: Just keeping the check on Piononos during baking to make sure they are not turn into over brown. When the cheese starts to brown too quickly, you have to cover them with foil for the last few minutes more.
Cooking Tips and Tricks:
- Uniform Slicing: This is for perfect frying and baking, just make sure your plantain pieces are in uniform size if possible. It will make sure they cook perfectly and be careful about burning or undercooking.
- To make advance Tip: For this you have to prepare the picadillo filling in advance.
- Storage Tip: When you have leftover Piononos, you can store them in a vacuum container in the fridge for up to 3 days to 4 days. In the time of serving, reheat them in the oven or microwave.
Serving Suggestions & Variations:
Complementary Sides:
- Arroz con Gandules (Rice with Pigeon Peas): The rich, flavorful rice in this classic Puerto Rican side dish is the perfect match for the sweet and savory Piononos, balancing the sweetness of the plaintains.
- Mango Salad: Here a refreshing mango salad with red onions, cilantro, and lime would offer a perfect contrast to the enrichment of the Piononos recipe.
Beverage Pairings:
- Puerto Rican Coquito: When you are honoring an event, you can serve the Piononos with Coquito, a sweet, coconut-based Puerto Rican drink which is amazingly perfect for any festive occasion or celebration.
- Fresh Limeade: This is for an alcohol less alternative, provide with a glass of refreshing limeade to cut through the enrichment of the creation.
Variations:
- Vegetarian Option: Exchange ground turkey with a mixture of sautéed vegetables or lentils for making this dish Meat free.
- Cheese Variation: Keep your experiment with different cheeses such as queso blanco or sharp cheddar for a different taste combination.
Storage & Meal Prep Tips:
To store any leftover Piononos in a vacuum container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or 4 days. For reheating, set them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 15 minutes or till it warmed.
Moreover, by freezing the gathered Piononos before baking them. Just simply wrap them in foil and store in a bag suitable for freezing for up to 1 month. For baking it, simply place in the fridge overnight to thaw, then proceed with the original baking instructions.
FAQ :
May I make Piononos with green plantains?
Yes, of course! To make this recipe, it will be better to use ripe sweet plantains because they deliver the absolute amount of sweetness and tenderness in the dish.
These Green plantains are firmer and less sweet, to make them better suited for savory dishes with taste.
How Can I use ground beef instead of ground turkey?
Well, you can exchange ground beef for ground turkey. Be careful about the ground turkey is leaner and results in a lighter filling, when ground beef will make the picadillo richer and fattier enough.
Can I adjust the spiciness of the picadillo and How?
Yes, you can! For adjusting the spiciness, increase or decrease the amount of pepper and Sazón which includes chili powder. Also, you can add a chopped jalapeño or bell pepper for more temperature, it is depending on your taste demand.
How Can I make the Piononos in advance?
You have to ready the Piononos before of time by gathering them up to the point of baking. If assembled, you have to cover them with plastic wrap or foil and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours utterly.
Whenever, you are ready for baking, by preheating the oven and cooking as the guidance preferred. It’s creates for a convenient meal preparation option.
Final Thought
When you are new to Puerto Rican Cooking, Piononos are an amazing Creation! Also this dish perfectly blends the sweet flavor of plantains with the savory richness of picadillo completely.
Please do not waste your time, and keep trying to make this recipe. Freely share your thoughts, tips, and any modifications you add in the recipe, write in the comments below.
Remember to share this recipe on social media, with your friends and family, they will thank you for it!
Enjoy cooking, and keep happy eating!
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