Quick Meal Monday 11/16

Today's meal is not as quick but it was what I was in the mood for.  STUFFED PLANTAINS!!  In case you don't know what a plantain is: Plantains are a member of the banana family. They are a starchy, low in sugar variety that is cooked before serving as it is unsuitable raw. It is used in many savory dishes somewhat like a potato would be used and is very popular in Western Africa and the Caribbean countries. It is usually fried or baked.Plantains vary in color from green (unripe) to almost black (very ripe)  The plantains I used for the purpose of this dish are yellow and have brown spots.  These are in the middle. If they are not in the middle they will not be the proper consistency when you mash them.


I started with 5 plantains (1 per member of my household) 
1lb cooked ground beef
shreeded white cheese

Cut the plantains in thirds and put them in a pot of boiling water.  You are going to boil them until they are fork tender. Usually about 15-20 minutes.  After you boil them drain them and remove the peels.  Then mash them with a potato masher.

Now I put flour on my hands to keep the plantains from sticking on them.  I grabbed some and made a ball a little bigger than the size of a golf ball. I then I flattened it like a tortilla.  I added ground beef and shredded cheese on top.

Then I repeated the process and made another "tortilla shape" for the top.  I formed them into oval shaped patties (for lack of a better word)

Finally I fried them until they were golden brown and served them with rice.  Yummy!!!