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Patacón maracucho
Patacón maracucho: Maracaibo sandwich with fried green plantain as the bread
VenezuelanIn Maracaibo, the patacón is a sandwich where the bread is a whole green plantain, sliced lengthwise, fried, smashed flat and fried again until crisp. It's stacked with grilled meat, salty white cheese, lettuce, tomato and a flood of sauces, and sold from busy street stands late into the night. This version fills it with garlicky chicken. The common mistake is flattening the plantain after it has cooled, so it cracks. Chef's tip: press it between two sheets of baking paper with a heavy board while it is still hot from the first fry.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the patacones
- 3 ¼ cups vegetable oilfor frying
- 1 tsp salt
For the chicken
- 14 oz chicken breastthin strips
- 2 cloves garliccrushed
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
To fill
- 5 ½ oz salty white cheesesliced
- 4 leaves lettuceshredded
- 1 tomatosliced
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp ketchup
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Toss 14 oz chicken breast with 2 cloves garlic, ½ tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp lime juice and a pinch of ¼ tsp salt. Leave in the fridge while you prepare the plantains.
5 minStep 2: Peel 4 large green plantains by cutting off the ends, scoring the skin lengthwise and prising it away. Cut each lengthwise into 2 thick slabs.
8 minStep 3: Heat 3 ¼ cups vegetable oil in a wide deep pan to 325°F and fry the slabs for 4 minutes, until pale golden and soft. Drain.
8 minStep 4: While hot, press each slab between two sheets of baking paper under a chopping board until about 5 mm thick and wide like a slice of bread.
5 minStep 5: Raise the oil to 350°F and fry the flattened slabs again for 2–3 minutes, until crisp and golden. Drain and sprinkle with the rest of ¾ tsp salt.
8 minStep 6: Fry the chicken in 1 tbsp vegetable oil over a high heat for 5–6 minutes, until golden and cooked through (165°F).
6 minStep 7: Spread one patacón with 4 tbsp mayonnaise and 3 tbsp ketchup, layer chicken, 5 ½ oz salty white cheese, 4 leaves lettuce and 1 tomato, and top with a second patacón. Eat at once.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 640 kcal
- Protein
- 32 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 31 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does patacón maracucho take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of chicken breast?
- Boneless chicken thighs, same weight (a few minutes longer).
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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