Patacon Maracucho Recipes

PATACON

Steps:

• For the mojo: Combine the lime juice, green pepper, white onion, oil, garlic, japaleños, salt, and 1/3 cup of water in a medium bowl and whisk until the salt is dissolved.
• For the pork belly: Place the pork belly in the mojo and marinate for 1 hour.
• Bring 7 cups water to a boil in a large pot. Add the pork belly and cook for 45 to 50 minutes. Drain and let cool for 20 minutes.
• Deep-fry the pork belly until golden brown.
• For the patacon: Deep-fry the plantains until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Place the fried plantains on a table in a straight line. Place a cheesecloth on top and use a rolling pin to mash plantains. Cool for 30 minutes, then fry again before serving.
• For the rice: Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in the rice and salt and reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and cook until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• For the guacamole: Scoop the avocado flesh into a low serving bowl and mash with a fork. Add the olive oil, lime juice, jalapeño and some cilantro; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the pico de gallo: Put the tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, olive oil, lime juice and some cilantro in a mixing bowl; stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble: Arrange the deep-fried pork belly on the patacon. Serve with a side of rice, guacamole and pico de gallo.

PATACON PISAO

Steps:

• Boil beans in water to cover with bay leaf until tender; drain. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil until tender. Add cumin and oregano; cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and cooked beans. Puree in a food processor.
• Fry cooked plantains in a skillet at 300 degrees F until tender. Place between 2 wet towels and roll to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin to create a round "dough" of plantain. Return to pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until edges are crisp.
• To serve, spread puree over plantains. Scramble eggs in a non-stick pan, and place on top of plantains. Sprinkle with cheese.

PATACON MARACUCHO

Steps:

• Add 1 1/2 inches of oil to a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or medium Dutch oven and heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer reaches 350 degrees F. Drop in the plantains and cook, flipping halfway through, until they're light golden brown with light brown streaks, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove to a cutting board to rest until cool enough to handle. Keep the oil at 350 degrees F.
• Sprinkle the plantains all over with garlic salt. Make a small cut down each side of each plantain half to ensure they will flatten evenly on both sides. Using the flat surface of a small cutting board or sturdy plate, flatten the plantains so they are about 1/4 inch thick. Return the plantains to the oil and fry until the softer parts have a little crunch, about 2 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with another pinch of garlic salt.
• Combine the ketchup and mayonnaise in a small bowl.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of the pink sauce on one side of each plantain half. Top 4 of the plantain halves each with one-quarter of the avocado slices, 1/3 cup of the chicken, 1/4 cup of the shredded lettuce, 2 of the tomato slices and 2 tablespoons of the cheese. Top with the remaining plantain halves. Serve immediately.

PATACON MARACUCHO (FRIED PLANTAIN SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Heat oil in a 10" skillet over medium-high heat. Add plantain halves and fry, turning once, until light brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and split each plantain in half lengthwise, keeping them hinged on the inward-curved side. Place on cutting board cut sides down and, using a plate, flatten each into a 1/4″-thick round disk. One at a time, return each plantain disk to the oil and fry, turning once, until crisp and golden brown, about 4 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Purée mayonnaise, cilantro, and avocado in a food processor until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a medium bowl and add chicken; toss to coat. Place chicken mixture on one plantain disk and top with lettuce and tomato. Cover with remaining disk.