Are you looking for an authentic and flavorful Dominican Republic version of pasteles en hoja? Look no further! Pasteles en hoja is a traditional Dominican dish that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. This delectable dish consists of a savory filling wrapped in a banana leaf and steamed to perfection. With its unique blend of spices, meats, and vegetables, pasteles en hoja is a true culinary delight. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to explore new cuisines, this article will guide you through the steps to create the best pasteles en hoja inspired by the Dominican Republic's rich culinary heritage.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
[RECIPE + VIDEO] PASTELES EN HOJA (DOMINICAN PLANTAIN POCKETS)
Steps:
- Making the batter by hand: Grate the plantain, yautía, and auyama with the least coarse side of the grater. Once grated, combine all the ingredients for the batter and mix well.Making the batter with blender/food processor: Chop the plantain, yautía, and auyama, and combine with the rest of the ingredients for the batter. Pureé in a strong blender or a food processor until it's uniform, and you can't feel any clumps, but feels like grains of sand in it. It may take 5-10 minutes depending on the blender/processor.
- Wrapping: Put 2.5 tablespoons of the plantain and root mixture on one of the plantain squares. Put 2 tablespoons of filling in the center, cover with 2 more tablespoons of the root mixture to cover the filling.Fold the leaf square in the shape of an envelope. Wrap again in parchment paper and tie tightly.Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Boiling: When all are wrapped, bring one gallon of water to boil in a large pot over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of salt.When the water reaches a rolling boil, carefully lower the pasteles into the water. Cover and cook for 40 minutes. The pasteles will float when put into the water, but as they cook they'll start to puff and sink. Make sure to turn a couple of times during the cooking time so they cook uniformly on all sides. Once the 40 minutes have passed, remove one from the pot, unwrap, and check for doneness: the consistency of the batter will have changed throughout. If it's ready, remove all from the water, otherwise boil for another 10 minutes.
- Serving: Serve right after unwrapping, garnished with hot sauce and/or ketchup.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 pasteles, Calories 136 kcal, Carbohydrate 21 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 1 g, Cholesterol 14 mg, Sodium 638 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 7 g
PASTELES EN HOJA (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC VERSION)
If you are familiar with Caribbean food, then you should know almost everything is made or is accompanied by plantains (unripe bananas). This looks like the Mexican tamale, and is made almost the same way, but with different ingredients. And of course instead of a corn outside layer it is made with plantains. This is a holiday staple. You can find the plantain leaves in any Hispanic market, in the frozen foods section. If you can't find it replace with parchment paper.
Provided by Kitty Kat Cook
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cut the banana leaves into 8x8-inch squares wash, pat dry and reserve.
- If using pork or chicken:.
- Place a small chicken (about a 2lbs) or pork loin in a crock pot and liberally sprinkle with adobo seasoning until covered. Set on low for 6-8 hours When done, allow it to cool and shred it with your fingers. Now you can use it for the pasteles.
- If using ground beef:.
- In a bowl combine the meat with the onion powder, oregano, basil, 2 tbsp adobo seasoning.
- In a pan over medium heat, heat up oil and add garlic, onions and pepper. Sauté until tender. Add 1/2 lb of meat.
- Cook until no longer pink and drain. Return to heat and 2 tbsp of water and tomato paste. Cook until all liquid has evaporated. Reserve.
- If using cooked pork or chicken:.
- Heat up oil over medium heat and add garlic, onions and pepper until tender; add 1/2 lb meat. Season with oregano, bay, onion powder, black pepper and salt if needed. Stir until combined. Add 2 tbsp water and tomato paste, heat through, for about 2 minutes or until liquid has evaporated. Reserve.
- Peel the plantains, niame and malanga. Grate the raw niame, malanga and plantain and mix with 1 tsp of adobo seasoning and 1 tspn salt. Add the broth either store-bought kind or the broth made if you slow-cooked the chicken. It will look like a doughy mass. Don't make it too wet.
- For assembly:.
- Put 2 tbsp of the plantain mixture on the center of a banana tree leaf, on top put 1 tspn of meat, and top that with 2 more tbsp of the plantain mixture. Wrap the leaf around it to form a rectangle; about 5-7" in length and 3-4" in width. Wrap another layer of parchment paper over each one. Tie string once around and once the other way to resemble a present, and tie a knot in the middle. At this point you can freeze them by wrapping a third layer of foil over each one and store for up to a month, just remove foil before cooking.
- When ready to make, put half a gallon of water in a very large pot and boil them for 20 minutes. Remove the banana leaf before eating.
- We usually eat them with Tabasco sauce and/or ketchup. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 500.2, Fat 15.2, SaturatedFat 5.2, Cholesterol 38.6, Sodium 710.4, Carbohydrate 91.2, Fiber 24, Sugar 9.1, Protein 18.7
DOMINICAN PASTELES EN HOJA AS MADE BY JULISSA CALDERON RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: olive oil, bijol seasoning, small red onion, garlic, ground beef, salt, pepper, dried oregano, tomato sauce, raisin, unripe plantains, yucca, chicken broth cubes, sazon goya seasoning powder, lime juices, milk, bijol seasoning, banana leaves, butcher's twine, ketchup, hot sauce
Provided by Matthew Johnson
Categories Dinner
Yield 24 servings
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Bijol seasoning and cook for 3 minutes or until the oil turns reddish-orange and is aromatic. Set aside all but 2 tablespoons of the seasoned oil and return the pan to the heat.
- Add the red onion, garlic, beef, salt, pepper, and oregano and stir to combine. Cook until the meat is well browned, around 15 minutes.
- Add the tomato sauce and raisins. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, or until all of the liquid evaporates and the meat is tender. Remove from the heat and let cool.
- Make the plantain dough: In a deep bowl, add the plantains, yuatía, chicken broth cubes, Sazón Goya powder, lime juice, some of the milk, Bijol seasoning, and reserved Bijol oil. Stir to combine, adding more milk as needed until the dough is seasoned to your taste, soft, tacky, and light orange in color.
- Lay a banana leaf on a clean work surface and brush the center with Bijol oil. Scoop 3 tablespoons of the plantain dough into the center of the square and top with 2 tablespoons of the beef filling. Fold the banana leaf in half, then roll up and tuck in the ends to seal. Tie tightly with twine to secure. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil over medium heat and season with salt. Add the pasteles, cover, and cook for 40 minutes. Remove the pasteles from the pot.
- Unwrap and serve with ketchup and hot sauce.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 266 calories, Carbohydrate 46 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 6 grams, Sugar 17 grams
Tips:
- Prep the banana leaf: If using fresh banana leaves, wash them thoroughly and pat them dry. To soften them, pass them over an open flame or heat them in a microwave for a few seconds.
- Use ripe plantains: For the best flavor and texture, use ripe plantains that are bright yellow with a few black spots.
- Season the meat well: Don't be afraid to season the meat generously with adobo, garlic, oregano, and salt. This will give the pasteles a flavorful filling.
- Wrap the pasteles tightly: When wrapping the pasteles, make sure to wrap them tightly so that the filling doesn't leak out during cooking.
- Boil the pasteles for at least an hour: To ensure that the pasteles are cooked through, boil them for at least an hour. You can also steam them for 1-2 hours.
Conclusion:
Pasteles en Hoja are a delicious and traditional dish from the Dominican Republic. They are made with a filling of seasoned meat, vegetables, and spices, wrapped in a banana leaf and boiled or steamed. Pasteles en Hoja are typically served during special occasions, such as Christmas and New Year's. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can create delicious pasteles en hoja that will be enjoyed by your family and friends.
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