Pastele Stew Recipe
Need a comforting holiday meal that's also delicious and easy to make? Give this Pastele Stew a try! It is made with pork, bananas, vegetables, chillis, etc.
Ingredients
For The Stew:
- 4 pounds pork butt (cubed)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 2 onions (chopped)
- 2 bell peppers (chopped)
- 2 bundles of cilantro (chopped)
- 1 clove garlic (crushed)
- 5 Hawaiian chilli peppers
- 3 cups water
- 1 small can of tomato paste
- 1 can pit whole olives
For The Masa:
- 8 green bananas
For The Achiote Oil
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- achiote seeds
Instructions
For The Masa:
- Begin by slicing the skin of the green bananas lengthwise down each side.
- Then, add the green bananas in very hot water, just under a boil, for about 5 to 10 minutes. This will help the removal of the skin.
- Peel the bananas and grate them finely into a bowl. Set aside.
For The Achiote Oil
- Heat the vegetable oil in an pot and add the achiote seeds.
- Cook the mixture for about 5 to 10 minutes and take it out from the heat.
- Retain the oil in the pot and allow it to cool.
- You can store the oil for future use in a glass jar. Handling achiote oil with caution is essential, as it can cause staining.
For The Stew:
- Cut the pork butt into the cubes and chop the onions, bell peppers, cilantro, chili peppers, and garlic.
- Cook the pork in a large pot with oil, adding salt, pepper, cumin, and oregano.
- Add the onions, garlic, bell peppers, chili peppers, and cilantro to the pot and cook for 30 minutes.
- Add 3 cups of water and cook for another 45 minutes.
- Taste the stew and add salt, pepper, and seasonings if necessary.
- Add tomato paste and cook for an more 30 minutes.
- Add half of the achiote oil to the stew, stir well, and then add the remaining oil.
- Gradually add the olives and green banana (masa) one large spoon at a time, stirring continuously until the desired thickness is achieved.
Nutrition
Calories: 1020kcal