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Aunty Bea Rodrigues’ Pastele Stew
Aunty Bea Rodrigues came into the kitchen carrying green bananas and a lively spirit. As a former Miss Puerto Rico who grew up in Hawaii, she’s well-versed in Puerto Rican cuisine and taught me the proper method for preparing traditional pastele stew.Be sure to give me a call when you make this—I’d love to join in! You can catch past episodes of Cooking Hawaiian Style on-demand at https://oc16.tv/shows/cooking-hawaiian-style
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb. Pork Butt cut in cubes
- to taste salt/pepper
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 onions chopped
- 2 bell peppers chopped
- 2 bundles cilantro chopped
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 4-6 Hawaiian chili peppers
- 3 cups water
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 1 can olives seedless, whole
- 8 green bananas
Achiote oil
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- achiote seeds
Instructions
Masa:
- To make masa, first slice the skin of green bananas all the way down on each side lengthwise, then soak green bananas in really hot water for 5-10 minutes. This makes taking the skin very easy.
- Peel bananas and grate using fine grater into a bowl. Set aside.
Achiote Oil:
- Heat vegetable oil in old pot and add achiote seeds.
- Cook for 5-10 minutes and remove from heat.
- Keep oil in pot and allow to cool.
- You can store oil for later use in a glass jar.
- Use extreme caution when working with achiote oil as it will stain.
Stew:
- Cut meat into cubes and chop onions, bell peppers, cilantro, chili peppers and garlic. Cook pork with oil in a large pot, adding salt and pepper. Add cumin and oregano. Add onions, bell peppers, garlic, chili peppers and cilantro to pot and cook for 30 minutes. Add 3 cups water and cook another 45 minutes.
- Taste and add additional salt, pepper and seasonings, if necessary. Add tomato paste and cook another 30 minutes. Add half of the achiote oil to the stew, stir well, then add remaining oil. Add olives and green banana (masa) one large spoon at a time, slowly, until desired thickness is achieved.
Nutrition
Calories: 5465kcalCarbohydrates: 306gProtein: 283gFat: 362gSaturated Fat: 70gPolyunsaturated Fat: 140gMonounsaturated Fat: 129gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 816mgSodium: 8389mgPotassium: 10934mgFiber: 57gSugar: 159gVitamin A: 13012IUVitamin B1: 8mgVitamin B5: 26mgVitamin C: 443mgCalcium: 734mgIron: 33mg
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