Pastelón (Plantain and Beef Casserole) Recipe (with Video)

Preparing the Plantains
1. Peel and cut open the plantains.
2. Cut in half and into 1/4-inch strips.
3. Over medium/high heat add the oil and fry the plantains until golden brown on each side (approximately 35 seconds on each side).
4. Set aside.
5. For less oil, air-fry the entire plantains for 5-7 minutes.
6. Spray with oil before cooking, then flatten once they are cooked.
Preparing the Meat
1. In a pan, add the meat, sofrito, onions, and peppers, seasonings and olives if adding.
2. Sauté for a few minutes.
3. Add the tomato sauce and simmer until meat is browned and fully cooked.
Assembling and Baking the Pastelón
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a small square or rectangular baking dish.
3. Add a layer of the plantains, then a layer of meat, and cheese.
4. Continue to add layers until you run out of plantains (approximately 2-3 layers).
5. On the final layer of plantains, add the beaten eggs on top of all the layers.
6. Finish with a top layer of cheese.
7. Bake the pastelón for 20-30 minutes until the cheese melts.