Pastel\u00f3n, a traditional Puerto Rican dish, is fairly easy to make and most Latino homecooks were probably taught by their mothers and grandmothers how to make this savory, cheesy plantain-and-ground beef favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201dWhat? You say you’ve never tried it? Do you love lasagna? Do you love plantains<\/a>? Then you love pastel\u00f3n!\u201d says Michelle Ezratty Murphy<\/a>, one of our favorite homecooks at Familia Kitchen. She grew up in Puerto Rico, married a local guy, and is an experta in making the island\u2019s traditional dishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201dI call this dish lasagna\u2019s cousin. My Puerto Rican husband calls it a medley of everything he likes layered in between sweet plantains and then served with rice and beans<\/a> or tostones<\/a>,\u201d says Michelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n