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
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line baking sheets with foil and coat with cooking spray or oil.
- 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
Nutrition Information:
Chris Culver says
I love this recipe and have made it several times using Impossible Meat. Am considering trying to substitute black beans or garbanzos for the meat next time. Just the easiest and most delicious quick meal.
ImmaculateBites says
Thanks for taking time out to share this with us. Happy Holidays
Michelle G. says
I make this recipe regularly. I was looking for satisfying Paleo recipes that my kids and family would like and this hit the spot. I usually make the sauce with some red bells, zucchini and/or mushrooms, and season it like Spaghetti sauce. It really works well with the sweet plantains. I also often use a “mystery meat” – like ostrich, bison, lamb, etc.
ImmaculateBites says
Nice. Thanks for taking time out to share your thoughts.
Helena says
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.
imma africanbites says
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/