Pastilles, Dominican food recipe 🌸🍋🌸🍋🌸🍋🌸🍋🌸🍋🌸🍋🌸

PASTELES “PASTILLES” RECIPES (DOMINICAN SPECIALTY)

Few dishes are as cherished by Dominicans as Pasteles en hoja, a dish that is an essential component of the Christmas and New Year's Eve feast and even makes appearances outside of the holiday festivities. See how easy it's to make creamy pasteles and several rellenos.

Dominican pasteles are made with a dough (masa) of root vegetables like yuca (cassava), plantain, and kabocha squash that is seasoned with annatto oil, garlic, and other spices. The filling can vary but typically includes ground meat (beef, chicken etc) or vegetables, and both are wrapped in banana leaves or “speacial raping paper” before being boiled or frozen.

For the masa (dough)

Root Vegetables: Yuca (cassava), green plantains, and kabocha squash (auyama) are the base.

Color and Flavor: Annatto (achiote) seeds, often cooked in oil, are essential for color and flavor.

Seasoning: A sofrito or seasoning blend, which includes garlic, onions, peppers, and cilantro, is used.

Liquid: Evaporated milk or broth is often blended in to achieve a smooth consistency.

Fat: Salted butter is sometimes added to the masa.

For the filling

Meat: Ground beef, chicken, or shredded chicken are common, often cooked down with onions, peppers, garlic, and tomato paste.

Vegetarian: Some recipes use a vegetable-based filling with ingredients like olives, capers, and other canned or fresh vegetables.

Sweetness: Raisins are frequently added to the filling for a touch of sweetness. “Optional”

For wrapping

Leaves: Banana or plantain leaves are softened in boiling water to make them pliable for wrapping. Country’s side people use only banana leaves.

Alternatives: Parchment paper can be used as a substitute for the leaves.

Securing: Kitchen twine is used to tie the wrapped pasteles securely. #dominicanpaste #mbakht #puertoricanrecipe #pastelillos #foodrecipe