Stuffed Baked Plantains – roasted plantains filled with seasoned ground meat, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, and spices, topped with cheese for lunch, dinner or even breakfast- very comforting!
Don’t worry; no one would know you made these for breakfast – if you decide to make it for breakfast.
I am a HUGE plantain- lover! Can’t lie about it, I have been known to cause a scene at home if someone eats my last remaining plantain. I just can’t live without it.
Recently, I have been trying out different plantain recipes, anything that looks pleasing, and continue to incite my palate- count me in. This is one of those plantain recipes that caught my attention and I knew I had to make it.
This recipe is easy to make, instead of frying the plantains, I roast them in the oven to cut out some calories, so I can eat two. Then, I slit open the plantains and fill it up. For the filling, I sauté tomato sauce with onions, smoked paprika, garlic, bell-pepper and ground meat-you can use any ground meat; chicken, turkey or beef. Then I place the seasoned meat in the plantains, topped with cheese.
When buying plantains it is important to get the correct one; It is should be ripe, yellow and firm, Not overly ripe (Dark skin) because it would end up mushy.
Watch How to Make It
Stuffed Baked Plantains – roasted plantains filled with seasoned ground meat, tomatoes, onions, bell pepper, and spices, topped with cheese for lunch, dinner or even breakfast- very comforting!
- 2-3 ripe plantains
- 2 tablespoon canola oil
- ½ pound ground meat
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 small green yellow or red pepper
- 2 tablespoon parsley
- ½ cup grated cheese optional
- Cooking spray
- Salt and pepper as needed
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Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line baking sheets with foil and coat with cooking spray or oil.
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Using a sharp knife, cut both ends off the plantain. This will make it easy to grab the skin of the plantains. Slit a shallow line down the long seam of the plantain, peel only as deep as the peel. Remove plantain peel by pulling back.
- Place plantains on tray and lightly spray, bake for a about 15, turn and bake on the other side for another 15 minutes or until golden brown and tender.
- While the plantains are baking, add 2 tablespoon of oil to a sauce pan, followed by onions, garlic and tomato sauce. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning, add about ½ cup of water if needed.
- Then, add ground meat and continue cooking for about 10 or more minutes.
- Finally add green pepper and parsley, adjust for seasoning
- Remove baked plantains from oven cool for a couple of minutes, make a horizontal slit in the plantains, stuff with equal amounts of meat mixture
- Sprinkle with cheese, if desire place in oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm
I love this recipe; however, I would like to make it for my veggie friend can I use black lentils or a bean instead of ground meat.
Hi, Helena. Yes, you can. In fact, I have a recipe for that. You can check it out here >> https://www.africanbites.com/baked-stuffed-plantains-with-black-beansvegan/
Making this Friday for my son’s birthday..yummy
What do you use tomato sauce for? I see it listed but its not in dirictions? Can i skip it?
You can. Double check Step 4.
This is also a Puerto Rican favorite, one of my favorites growing up, however have not made it myself as an adult. If you have not heard of Pinon you must try it as well, it’s a plantain lasagna. Thanks for sharing this recipe it looks just as my mom use to make except she put Sazon in the meat, I will be making it tonight for the family
Hi Jo! I love pionono ! Treat myself to it all the time. I have plantain lasagna here on the blog. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. Do let me know how it works out for you.
This is one of my new favorite recipes. It is so good and super easy to make. I have served it over a bed of rice (white or yellow), that sits on top of spicy black beans. Everything else is the same as the recipe. Talk about good!
Fantastic! Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts with me Sharon.
Thank you for this recipe! I’m doing the whole30 program, and this recipe will help me break up the monotonous cycle of meals. I love Plantains as I’m from the Caribbean! Stuffing them with yummy ground beef is a great option. I look forward to cooking this…
Awesome! Am a plantain lover my self and this is a great option.
Hope to cook this today. I’m a lover of plantain. I eat it with everything, soup, bread etc. I know its going to be
delicious. Thank you and I will be looking out for more recipes to try out.
Caribbean woman
Happy Cooking!!! Do let me know which ones you try.
Is there a video on this. I have never cooked plantains bt my son says he loves them so would like to try. I dont understand cutting the skin
Helen
SOrry I don’t have one at this time . However check out this recipe here with all the steps . It will definitely help clarify things. https://www.africanbites.com/baked-plantains-cheese/.
Looks delicious and simple. I have sweet plantain “attack”. Will love to make them this way. Wish me luck. Thank you for the recipe.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you Angie . Happy Cooking
Oh dear… Just came across ur blog a week ago.. Been goin thru ur archives and I just have to comment on this.. It looks really good!!!! I hope mine turns out well when I try it out.
It such an easy recipe make, you will enjoy it.let me know how it goes. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Having lived in Cameroon for many years…I have never come across this dish. Nevertheless worth trying it out.
Njinda, this is not a Cameroonian dish- more of a Colombian one. Thanks for stopping by.
hey girl, am off to my kitchen to try this, I can`t resist the pic. will let u know how it turns out.
Luv luv luv ur quick easy recipe…. Will be tryin this out for sure… 🙂
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try it. I notice 1/2 pound ground meat is listed twice in the ingredients list. Do I use 1/2 pound or 1 pound ground meat?
My mistake, you use 1/2 pound . Let me know how it turns out.
Rocquie, do let me know how it turn out. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
I am making this and will let you know! Just got some African curry powder and may use a little.
Nice addition. Can’t wait to see hear how it all works out .
These look scrumptious! I really like plantains but only know how to fry them. I will definitely be trying this very soon. Thank you for sharing.