Cornmeal Pastelle Paradise
Cornmeal Pastelle Paradise is a traditional Trinidad and Tobago dish that is typically enjoyed during the Christmas season. This delicious dish features a flavorful filling encased in a cornmeal dough, then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed to perfection.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cornmeal
- 1 cup water
- 1 lb ground meat (beef or pork)
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 12 banana leaves, cut into 12x12 inch squares
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the cornmeal with water to form a smooth dough. Set aside.
- In a skillet, cook the ground meat, onion, garlic, and bell pepper until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender.
- Add the paprika, cumin, thyme, salt, and pepper to the meat mixture. Stir to combine and remove from heat.
- Take a banana leaf square and place a spoonful of the cornmeal dough in the center. Flatten the dough and add a spoonful of the meat mixture on top.
- Wrap the banana leaf around the filling to form a neat parcel, then secure with kitchen twine.
- Steam the pastelles for 45-60 minutes until the cornmeal is cooked through.
- Remove the pastelles from the steamer and let them cool slightly before unwrapping and serving.
Cooking & Preparation
- Preparation time:
- 30 minutes
- Cooking time:
- 1 hour
- Total time:
- 1 hour
- Cooking method
- Stovetop
Nutritional facts per 1 serving
- Calories
- 300 per serving
- Carbohydrates
- 45g
- Protein
- 10g
- Fat
- 8g
Supplies
Steamer Kitchen twine
Tools
Skillet Bowl
Serving suggestions
Serve the Cornmeal Pastelle Paradise with a side of traditional Trinidad and Tobago pepper sauce for an extra kick of flavor.
Tips & tricks
To make the wrapping process easier, you can soften the banana leaves by quickly passing them over an open flame before using them to encase the pastelles.
Cost
$20