Cuban Rice with Ground Beef

Cuban Rice with Ground Beef

Cuban Rice with Ground Beef

Arroz a la Cubana

This “Cuban-style” rice is originally a Latin American dish found in most of Spain’s former colonies, including the Philippines. It is simple and inexpensive to make—steamed rice, fried egg, fried bananas and sautèed beef are served together on a platter, or separately for diners to combine as they please. The sweet smell of this dish comes from the bananas.

Ingredients:

 4 tablespoons oil

5 cloves garlic, crushed with the side of a knife and minced

1 onion, minced

1 lb (500 g) ground beef (or pork)

1 potato, peeled and diced

1/3 cup (40 g) fresh or frozen green peas

3 tablespoons raisins

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

4 unripe saba bananas (or 2 plantains or 4 unripe regular bananas), cut in half lengthwise

4 eggs

4 cups (720 g) cooked rice

Direction:

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the garlic and sauté until lightly browned. Add the onion and sauté until translucent. Add the ground beef and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, or until cooked, stirring frequently. Transfer the meat to a bowl and set aside.
2. To the same skillet over medium heat, add another 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add the potato and sauté for 10 minutes. When cooked, add the meat mixture, green peas, raisins, soy sauce, salt and pepper and cook for 5 more minutes. Spoon the meat mixture onto a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
3. To the same skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of the oil and fry the bananas on each side for 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add the bananas to the platter with the meat mixture and cover again with the foil.
4. To the same skillet over medium heat, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil and fry the eggs, sunny side up. Set aside.
5. Arrange the hot steamed rice, fried bananas, beef, and fried eggs on a large platter or serve individually. Serve hot with banana ketchup(optional).