Pasteles Paradise (Paraíso de Pasteles)
Paraíso de Pasteles, or Pasteles Paradise, is a traditional Puerto Rican dish that is a labor of love to prepare. These savory parcels are made with a mixture of grated root vegetables, seasoned meat, and wrapped in banana leaves for a unique and delicious flavor.
Ingredients
- 3 cups grated green bananas
- 2 cups grated taro root
- 1 cup grated yautia (tropical root vegetable)
- 1 pound pork shoulder, diced
- 1/2 cup achiote oil
- 1/4 cup sofrito (a mix of onions, peppers, garlic, and herbs)
- 12 pieces of banana leaves, cut into 12x12 inch squares
- 1 cup pitted olives
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup capers
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the grated green bananas, taro root, and yautia with achiote oil and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, season the diced pork shoulder with sofrito, salt, and pepper.
- Place a banana leaf square on a flat surface and spread a portion of the root vegetable mixture on it.
- Add a portion of the seasoned pork, olives, raisins, and capers on top of the root vegetable mixture.
- Fold the banana leaf to form a packet and secure with kitchen twine.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add the pasteles. Cook for 1.5 to 2 hours.
- Remove the pasteles from the water and let them cool before serving.
Cooking & Preparation
- Preparation time:
- 1 hour
- Cooking time:
- 2 hours
- Total time:
- 3 hours
- Cooking method
- Stovetop
Nutritional facts per 1 serving
- Calories
- 350 per serving
- Carbohydrates
- 40g
- Protein
- 15g
- Fat
- 15g
Supplies
Large mixing bowl Knife Cutting board Kitchen twine Large pot
Tools
Grater Flat surface for assembling pasteles
Serving suggestions
Serve the pasteles with a side of arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas) and a drizzle of hot sauce for an authentic Puerto Rican meal.
Tips & tricks
To save time, you can prepare the root vegetable mixture and seasoned pork in advance and assemble the pasteles when ready to cook.
Cost
$30