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Jibaro Plantain Steak Sandwich

Ji­baro Plantain and Steak Sandwich Recipe

Caliricans.com
This Puerto Rican Jíbaro sandwich swaps out bread for crispy fried green plantains and is filled with thin-sliced steak, sautéed onions, lettuce, and garlic mayo for a bold, wheat-free twist on a classic.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Caribbean, Latin American, Puerto Rican
Servings 1 person

Equipment

  • 2 Saute pan One for frying plantains, one for cooking steak/onions.
  • 1 Cutting Board Preferably plastic for smashing plantains.
  • 1 Knife For slicing plantains and onions.
  • 1 Paper plate For flattening plantains.
  • 1 Paper towels or paper bag For draining fried plantains.
  • 1 Tongs or slotted spoon For handling hot plantains.
  • 1 Spatula or cooking spoon For stirring onions and steak.

Ingredients
  

For the Plantains

  • 1 cup Vegetable oil For frying.
  • 1 Green plantain Medium, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces.

For the Steak Filling

  • 1/2 tbsp Light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • 1 Top sirloin Thinly sliced piece, about 1/8 inch thick.
  • 1/4 Yellow onion Thinly sliced.
  • Salt To taste.

For Assembly

  • 1 piece Iceberg lettuce
  • Garlic-flavored mayonnaise

Instructions
 

Prepare the Plantains

  • Heat vegetable oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat.
    1 cup Vegetable oil
  • Add the plantain pieces and fry for about 10 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
    1 Green plantain, 1 cup Vegetable oil
  • Remove and drain on a paper towel or paper bag.
    1 Green plantain
  • Place each piece on a cutting board and flatten using a paper plate until about ⅛ inch thick.
    1 Green plantain
  • Return flattened plantains to the hot oil and fry again until crispy and golden. Drain and set aside.
    1 Green plantain, 1 cup Vegetable oil

Cook the Steak and Onions

  • In a separate sauté pan, heat ½ tbsp of oil over medium heat.
    1/2 tbsp Light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Add sliced onions and cook for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.
    1/4 Yellow onion, 1/2 tbsp Light olive oil or vegetable oil
  • Add steak and season with salt. Cook to your preferred doneness.
    1 Top sirloin, Salt, 1/2 tbsp Light olive oil or vegetable oil

Assemble the Sandwich

  • Place one piece of fried plantain down as the “bottom” of your sandwich.
    1 Green plantain
  • Layer with steak, sautéed onions, iceberg lettuce, and garlic-flavored mayo.
    1 Top sirloin, 1/4 Yellow onion, 1 piece Iceberg lettuce, Garlic-flavored mayonnaise
  • Top with the second piece of plantain.
    1 Green plantain
  • Cut the sandwich in half and serve immediately.

Notes

The Ji­baro or Jibarito is a specialty of Aguada, Puerto Rico and Chicago and is a sandwich made with flattened, fried green plantains instead of bread. Usually the jibarito has a steak filling but other fillings such as chicken and pork are now common. A proper jibarito is also said to have cheese, lettuce, tomato and garlic-flavored mayonnaise.