Pasteles
Similar to the tamale, pasteles are traditional Latin American and Caribbean masa-based pockets wrapped in banana leaves. They can take many forms depending on who is making them-everyone has their own tried and true family recipe.
Total Time
2 hr 40 min
Prep Time
40 minutes
Cook Time
1 hr
Ingredients
for 16 pasteles
Bell Pepper Purée
- 4 small red bell peppers, & green bell peppers seeded and roughly chopped
- 5 cloves garlic
- ½ medium spanish onion, chopped
- ¼ fresh cilantro
Masa
- 5 small green plantains, peeled and chopped
- ½ lb kabocha squash(225 g), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1 in (2 1/2 cm) pieces
- ½ lb yucca(225 g), peeled and cut into 1 in (2 1/2 cm) pieces
- 2 large ripe plantains, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Annatto Oil
- 1 teaspoon achiote
- 1 cup olive oil(240 mL)
Spiced Ground Beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced
- 2 small sweet chiles, seeded and minced
- 1 medium red onion, diced
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground coriander
- 1 ½ tablespoons za’atar
- 2 ½ lb ground beef(1 kg)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups chicken stock(480 mL), or water
Assembly
- 16 banana leaves, wiped clean and trimmed of the tough strip that was attached to the stem
- kosher salt, for boiling
Special Equipment
- 16 kitchen twines, 30 in (76 cm)
- offset spatula
- pastry brush