Looking for a twist on lasagna? This Puerto Rican Plantain Lasagna, or Pastelon, switches pasta for plantains. You'll love the Puerto Rican meat filling too.
Cut both ends off the plantain and slit a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain. Remove the peel. Slice the plantains into 4 or 5 horizontal pieces.
Cook the plantains: If you wish to fry them, heat a large skillet with halh an inch of oil on medium-high heat. Add the plantain in batches, turning once, until lightly brown. Transfer cooked plantains slices onto paper towels. To bake them, spread a bit of olive oil on a baking sheet and place plantains in a single layer. Brush the top pf the slices with more olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees F for 8 minutes, turning over slices, and bake another 12- 20 minutes or until slightly brown.
In a large skillet, heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and add the onions, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne, oregano. Cook for 1 minute or until fragrant.
Add bell pepper and tomato sauce, and bring to a simmer. Add the ground meat and beans, and cook for about 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne to taste, chicken bouillon or sazon, and add the olives and parsley.
Gtease a 8x8 inch pan. Line the bottom with the plantain. Spread evenly half the meat mixture and a handful of cheese. Repeat the process another time and top with the final layer of plantains.
Beat the eggs and water in a bowl and pour over the lasagna, spreading it over the entire pan. Top with remaining cheese
Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, or until all the egg has cooked through and the cheese is bubbly.