Easy Pastele Stew
Easy Pastele Stew
Ingredients
For the Stew
- 2 pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 green plantains
- 2 tablespoons achiote seeds
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can black olives, medium size, drained
- 24 ounces tomato sauce, Tomato Garlic Basil Pasta Sauce recommended
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- as needed water
- 1 packet Saz贸n, Goya brand with achiote recommended
For the Seasoning Blend
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon minced onion powder, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or to taste
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Place the 2 green plantains in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Bring to a boil and cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until they are soft enough to peel easily. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
鈴憋笍 25 min
- 2
While the plantains are cooling, prepare the achiote oil. In a separate medium pot, combine the vegetable oil and achiote seeds. Heat on low for about 10 minutes, or until the oil turns a rich orange-red color. Strain the oil through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the achiote seeds and set the infused oil aside.
鈴憋笍 15 min
- 3
Once the plantains are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into chunks. Transfer the plantain chunks to a blender. Add 1/4 cup of water to the blender to aid in blending, then blend until a smooth, thick paste forms. Set aside.
鈴憋笍 10 min
- 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the prepared achiote oil over medium-high heat. Add the stew meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes.
鈴憋笍 10 min - 5
Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion, diced bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot with the browned meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the onion becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
鈴憋笍 7 min
- 6
Stir in the garlic powder, minced onion powder, black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaves, cumin, and chicken bouillon powder. Mix well to combine all the seasonings with the meat and vegetables.
鈴憋笍 3 min
- 7
Pour enough water into the pot to just cover all the ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let the stew cook for 60-75 minutes, or until the meat begins to tenderize.
鈴憋笍 75 min
- 8
Add the chopped cilantro, drained black olives, and the blended plantain paste to the stew. Stir well to incorporate. Pour in the tomato sauce and mix thoroughly.
鈴憋笍 5 min
- 9
Cover the pot and continue to simmer on low heat for another 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the stew to thicken. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
鈴憋笍 30 min
- 10
After 30 minutes, stir in the packet of Saz贸n. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If the stew is too thick, add a little more water or tomato sauce until your desired consistency is reached. Serve hot, perhaps with gandules rice.
鈴憋笍 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Easy Pastele Stew
For the Stew
- 2 pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 green plantains
- 2 tablespoons achiote seeds
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can black olives, medium size, drained
- 24 ounces tomato sauce, Tomato Garlic Basil Pasta Sauce recommended
- 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
- as needed water
- 1 packet Saz贸n, Goya brand with achiote recommended
For the Seasoning Blend
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon minced onion powder, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried basil, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, or to taste
- 3 bay leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin, or to taste
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Place the 2 green plantains in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Bring to a boil and cook for approximately 20 minutes, or until they are soft enough to peel easily. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
鈴憋笍 25 min - 2
While the plantains are cooling, prepare the achiote oil. In a separate medium pot, combine the vegetable oil and achiote seeds. Heat on low for about 10 minutes, or until the oil turns a rich orange-red color. Strain the oil through a fine-mesh sieve to remove the achiote seeds and set the infused oil aside.
鈴憋笍 15 min - 3
Once the plantains are cool enough to handle, peel them and cut into chunks. Transfer the plantain chunks to a blender. Add 1/4 cup of water to the blender to aid in blending, then blend until a smooth, thick paste forms. Set aside.
鈴憋笍 10 min - 4
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the prepared achiote oil over medium-high heat. Add the stew meat and cook, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly browned on all sides, about 8-10 minutes.
鈴憋笍 10 min - 5
Reduce heat to medium. Add the diced onion, diced bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot with the browned meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the onion becomes translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
鈴憋笍 7 min - 6
Stir in the garlic powder, minced onion powder, black pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, dried thyme, bay leaves, cumin, and chicken bouillon powder. Mix well to combine all the seasonings with the meat and vegetables.
鈴憋笍 3 min - 7
Pour enough water into the pot to just cover all the ingredients. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let the stew cook for 60-75 minutes, or until the meat begins to tenderize.
鈴憋笍 75 min - 8
Add the chopped cilantro, drained black olives, and the blended plantain paste to the stew. Stir well to incorporate. Pour in the tomato sauce and mix thoroughly.
鈴憋笍 5 min - 9
Cover the pot and continue to simmer on low heat for another 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the stew to thicken. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
鈴憋笍 30 min - 10
After 30 minutes, stir in the packet of Saz贸n. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. If the stew is too thick, add a little more water or tomato sauce until your desired consistency is reached. Serve hot, perhaps with gandules rice.
鈴憋笍 5 min