Patele Stew Recipes

Steps:

• Cut meats up into bite size pieces.
• Brown in hot oil, add onions and garlic.
• When browned add tomato sauce and water.
• Simmer about 35 minute
• Add the potatoes and carrots, cooking until fork tender.
• Add salt and pepper, then add pateles, breaking up as you add.
• The pateles will thicken the stew.
• Enjoy with rice and pickled onions.

Steps:

• MASA: First, slice the skin of the green bananas all the way down on each side lengthwise, then soak green bananas in really hot water, just under a boil, for 5 to 10 minutes. This makes removing the skin very easy. Peel bananas and grate, using a fine grater, into a bowl. Set aside. ACHIOTE OIL: Heat vegetable oil in an old pot and add achiote seeds. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes and remove from heat. Keep oil in a pot and allow to cool. You can store oil for later use in a glass jar. Use extreme caution when working with achiote oil, as it will stain. STEW: Cut meat into cubes and chop onions, bell peppers, cilantro, chili peppers, and garlic. Cook pork with oil in a large pot, adding salt and pepper. Add cumin and oregano. Add onions, bell peppers, garlic, chili peppers, and cilantro to pot and cook for 30 minutes. Add 3 cups water and cook another 45 minutes. Taste and add additional salt, pepper, and seasonings, if necessary. Add tomato paste and cook another 30 minutes. Add half of the achiote oil to the stew, stir well, then add remaining oil. Add olives and green banana (masa) one large spoon at a time, slowly, until desired thickness is achieved.

Steps:

• 1. PREPARE ACHIOTE OIL: Heat olive oil and achiote seeds over medium heat for 5 minutes or just until oil has taken reddish color of seeds. Cool. Store in tightly sealed glass jar. Note: This recipe makes more than what is called for in stew recipe.(I refrigerate mines and kept it until the oil was used up, about 3 months later.)
• 2. PREPARE MASA: Peel bananas and place in lightly salted water (halving them lengthwise and using gloves makes job easier, green bananas leave a sticky sap). Grate on smallest opening of food processor or cheese grater. In bowl, combine grated bananas and 1/2 cup achiote oil and mix thoroughly. Seasoning lightly with salt. Scoop into little balls and drop into salted boiling water until the dumpling float. Once the dumplings float, remove from salted water and fold into the pastele stew. Optional: Store in heavy ziploc bag in refrigerator, and use within 1-2 days, or freeze until needed.
• 3. PREPARING STEW: In very large pot or dutch oven, heat 6 tablespoons of achiote oil over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, cumin, salt, bay leaves, cilantro and pork. Cook 10 minutes, occasionally stirring until onions have softened but not browned. Add tomato sauce, olives and their liquid, and 4 cups water. Lower heat to a simmer and cook 30 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Add masa and remaining water. Taste and re-season if necessary. Cover. Simmer 1 hour, stirring and checking from time to time to avoid scorching. The stew will thicken nicely, but if it gets too thick, add a little water to thin it to your liking. Season with freshly ground pepper. Serve over steaming white rice and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Note: I've also served this with a side of fried bread and bacalao salad (I will post these recipes later.) which was just as hearty and very lovely on the palate.