Pastelon (Puerto Rican Layered Casserole)

Pastelon is a traditional Puerto Rican recipe for a layered casserole that delivers a unique blend of salty, sweet, and savory in each bite.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 56 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 21 mins
• Calories: 463 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon crushed garlic
• cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 5 large eggs
• 8 green olives, finely chopped
• 1 (9 ounce) package frozen French cut green beans, thawed and drained
• 0.25 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.75 cup vegetable oil
• 0.33333334326744 cup sofrito
• 0.25 cup recao
• 6 large ripe plantains - peeled, halved, and each half cut lengthwise into 4 sli

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef; cook and stir until browned on the outside and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes. Remove meat from pan; drain fat.

Step 2

Place tomato sauce, sofrito, green olives, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, recao, and oregano in the skillet. Cook and stir over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Return ground beef to skillet; reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes more.

Step 3

Pour oil into a large skillet over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Fry plantain slices until golden, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

Step 4

Beat eggs thoroughly in a bowl; add 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Step 5

Line the bottom of the baking pan with half the plantains, overlapping as needed. Layer ground beef mixture, green beans, and remaining plantains; pour eggs on top. Top with mozzarella cheese.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until eggs are set and cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 7

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.