Puerto Rican Pasteles Recipe

Serves/Makes: 16 pasteles

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 pounds yautia (taro root)
• 3 pounds unripe (green) bananas
• 3/4 pound potatoes
• 1 green plantain
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 cup annatto oil, plus extra to grease the leaves or parchment paper
• Salt to taste
• Banana leaves, plantain leaves, parchment paper, or aluminum foil for wrapping
• Traditional Lobster Filling (see the recipe below)
• Salted water to boil pasteles

How to cook Puerto Rican Pasteles:

• Peel the vegetables and soak them is salted water for 5 minutes. Drain and grate on the finest side of the grater. Add the milk, oil, and salt. Let the dough rest for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. (It is better if refrigerated overnight.)
• Brush the leaves or parchment paper with annatto oil. Spread 1/2 cup of the dough onto the center of an 8×10-inch wrapper. Place 2 tablespoons of the filling on the left side of the dough. Fold about 2 1/2 inches from the left side of the wrapper. Fold twice more. Fold 2 1/2 inches from the top and bottom. You should have a rectangle about 3 1/2 inches wide and 61/2 inches long. Tie with butcher’s twine.
• Bring the water to a boil in a large soup pot. Add the pasteles and bring to a boil again.
• Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes, turning the pasteles once.

Traditional Lobster Filling Ingredients:

• 1 pound cooked lobster meat, diced
• 1 tablespoon annatto oil combined with 1 tablespoon light olive oil
• 1/4 cup basic recaito
• 1/4 cup currants
• 1/2 cup sliced manzanilla olives
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

How to cook Traditional Lobster Filling:

• Heat the oil in a heavy skillet until hot but not smoking.
• Add the recaito, currants, and olives. Saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the tomato sauce, lobster, and salt and pepper.
• Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature before using.

Notes:
Pasteles – a traditional Puerto Rican dish. Pasteles are wrapped green banana stuffed meat pastries, traditionally served at special occasions and holidays in Puerto Rico. No Boricuan (Puerto Rican) Christmas is complete without pasteles.

This recipe for Puerto Rican Pasteles serves/makes: 16 pasteles

Main Ingredient: Lobster
Preparation Method: Poached/Simmered
Cuisine: Caribbean