Parcels of green banana and root vegetable masa filled with seasoned chicken, wrapped in banana leaves and boiled until firm.
Nutrition & Info
Equipment Needed
Presentation Guide
Instructions
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1
Peel and grate green bananas, plantains, yautia, and calabaza. Mix with annatto oil and salt to form a smooth masa.
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2
Cook chicken filling by browning seasoned chicken pieces with sofrito, tomato sauce, sazon, olives, and capers until tender. Shred meat.
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3
Soften banana leaves by passing them quickly over a gas flame or blanching in hot water.
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4
Place a rectangle of banana leaf on the counter. Spread two tablespoons of masa in the center, add filling, fold and tie with twine.
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5
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasteles and cook one hour, turning once halfway through.
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6
Remove from water and let rest five minutes. Unwrap and serve hot with pique sauce.
Did You Know?
Making pasteles is such a labor-intensive process that Puerto Rican families turn it into a communal event called a pastelada, where everyone helps assemble dozens at once.
Chef's Notes
Equipment Tips
- food processor or grater
- banana leaves
- kitchen twine
- large pot
Garnishing
pique sauce
Accompaniments
The Story Behind Pasteles
Pasteles are the most sacred food of Puerto Rican Christmas, a dish that embodies the island's three cultural roots in a single wrapped parcel. The masa of green banana and root vegetables comes from Taino tradition, the seasoned meat filling reflects Spanish colonial cooking, and the banana leaf wrapping echoes African culinary techniques. Making pasteles is a family ritual, often spanning an entire weekend, where multiple generations gather to grate, fill, wrap, and tie hundreds of parcels for the holiday season.
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