Arroz a la Cubana

Arroz a la Cuban or Cuban-style rice with meat sauce and plantains - This rice dish has a strong Spanish influence. It consists of ground meat and vegetables in a delicious sauce with fried or baked plantains and of course fried egg (optional).

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, diced
1 small tomato, diced
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1/8 cup raisins
2 ripe plantains, peeled and sliced lengthwise
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1/2 tsp. pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

• Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil and sauté the garlic until golden brown. Add the shallots and sauté until translucent; add the tomato and cook until soften
• Add the ground beef, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes or until the meat is cooked or browned
• Add the raisins, pepper flakes, salt and pepper; stir constantly 
• Add the fresh or frozen peas, and cook for 5 minutes or until cooked.
• Remove from the heat and set aside
• Fry the eggs, sunny-side up
• Make a place with rice, meat, baked plantains and fried egg (optional)
• Serve hot!
• Yields: 4-5 servings

• Meanwhile preheat oven to 400º Fahrenheit, place the sliced plantains in a bowl, add the 2 tbsp. of coconut oil and toss them gently until completely coated 
• Arrange the plantain slices on a baking sheet and place them in the middle rack of the oven.  Bake for 15 minutes then carefully flip the plantains
• Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until both sides have caramelized
• If you want the outside to be a little bit crispy, turn the broiler on when you have 4 minutes of baking left.  Make sure to keep an eye on them.
• Remove when both sides are looking nice and caramelized