Plantain Empanadas with Green Chile and Black Bean Filling

I’ve adapted this recipe from Rick Bayless and was also inspired by this authentic recipe from Mely Martinez. I added Rio Luna Organics Large Chopped Green Chiles to homemade re-fried black beans to incorporate some more flavor into the filling. Rio Luna Organics’ new labels feature a special heat index so you know how much heat your adding to your recipes. These chiles are mild but very flavorful. The re-fried black beans are so good on their own. I kept dipping tortilla chips into them while I was making the empanadas. Snack heaven. I will definitely be making these re-fried black beans again for nacho night.

Traditionally these plantain empanadas are served with grated queso añejo (aged Mexican cheese) and a spicy salsa. I skipped the cheese to keep them vegan friendly and made a spicy fire roasted tomato salsa with heat from Rio Organics Nacho Sliced Jalapeños. It’s a simple but delicious salsa that I will be making again and again.

Pepper Experts

Rio Luna Organics are masters of producing the highest quality organic peppers and work with growers to integrate sustainable farming practices like drip irrigation, recycling initiatives and crop rotation into production. Professional chef’s, including myself, who only source the best quality ingredients know Rio Luna Organics delivers on flavor and taste and that’s why we’ve been using them for years.

xx Kaity

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Plantain Empanadas with Green Chile and Black Bean Filling

Prep 30 hours

Cook 45 mins

Total 30 hours, 45 mins

Author Kaity Farrell

Yield 12 empanadas

If you like fried plantains you will love these empanadas. Sweet starchy plantains make the empanada dough which is then filled with savory refried black beans flavored with green chiles.

Ingredients

• 4 ripe plantains
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium sweet onion, diced
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups cooked black beans or 1 15oz can, drained
• 1 7oz can Rio Luna Organic Large Chopped Green Chiles
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• All-purpose flour for forming empanadas
• Neutral oil for frying

Instructions

1. Fill a 4-quart saucepan 1/2 with water, cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Trim ends of plantains. Make a long incision throughout the skin from end to end, them cut plantain into thirds.
3. Boil pieces for 20 minutes, uncovered, then drain in a colander and cool to room temperature.
4. Remove skins from plantains and pass them through a potato ricer into a bowl or mash with a fork.
5. Season plantains with 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt.
6. While plantains are cooking, puree beans in a food processor until grainy with some chunks pieces.
7. Heat a skillet on medium-high and add olive oil then onions and sauce until softened and starting to brown. Then add minced garlic and continue to sauté, stirring occasionally, until onions and garlic are nicely browned.
8. Add bean puree, green chiles, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and cayenne if using. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture slightly thickest a consistency of soft mashed potatoes. Taste for seasoning and add salt to taste if needed. Remove from heat and cool.
9. Form empanada dough into 12, roughly 1.5” diameter balls.
10. Heavily flour your work surface.
11. Working one a time, roll dough balls into roughly 4-5” diameter discs, flipping dough in flour as needed to keep it from from sticking to surface and hands. Add more flour as needed.
12. Add 2 tablespoons of filling to the center of disc and fold dough over then seal and crimp edges with fingertips. Place formed empanadas on a well floured board or sheet pan.
13. Repeat process with the remaining dough.
14. Pour oil into a large (8-10”) heavy bottomed and deep-sided pot to fill it about 1/2”. Heat oil to 350˚F using a frying or candy thermometer to check temperature.
15. Fry 3-4 empanadas at a time, turning occasionally, until nicely golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch.
16. Drain empanadas on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.
17. Serve hot with Spicy Jalapeño Fire Roasted Salsa

Notes

• These empanadas are best eaten right away as the plantain crust softens over time.
• Formed empanadas can be kept and room temp for a couple hours before frying or frozen up to 6 months to fry at a future time.

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Spicy Jalapeño Fire Roasted Salsa

Prep 5 mins

Cook 5 mins

Total 10 mins

Author Kaity Farrell

Yield 2 cups

This easy salsa is a smoky spicy condiment to serve with plantain empanadas and a myriad of other dishes.

Ingredients

• 1lb fresh tomatoes, skin on, cut to about plum tomato size if large
• 1/2 red onion, cut into large chunks
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, stem on
• 6-12 Rio Luna Organics Nacho Sliced Jalapeños
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Broil tomatoes on a foil lined sheet pan skin side up until skin is blackened.

2. Pulse tomatoes and the rest of ingredients in a food processor until desired texture is reached.

3. Transfer salsa to a serving bowl.

Notes

• Store salsa in a sealed container and refrigerate. Use within 1 week.

Be sure to follow Rio Luna Organic Peppers on Facebook and Instagram to learn how to unlock the power of peppers and to discover recipes and entertainment tips perfect for summer!

This post was in collaboration with and sponsored by Rio Luna Organics. All content and opinions expressed here are my own. Read more about my sponsored post and affiliate policy here.