Beef and Plantain Casserole (Pastelón)

Here’s a Caribbean take on lasagna and possibly the most delectable casserole dish you’ve ever tasted. It’s what happens when ground beef is seasoned in sofrito (Puerto Rican marinade) and layered with sweet ripe Caribbean plantains. It’s more than a recipe, it’s a celebration of Puerto Rican and Dominican culture. I provide you with a recipe for homemade sofrito but you can shortcut with sofrito from a jar (see Tip). Serve the casserole with crusty bread and a side salad. I was introduced to pastelon by a roommate in college (Jenny) who was Puerto Rican, it was our celebratory meal. Good grades, job offers, we made pastelon!