I love a good dish that creates controversy. This is A CHICAGO creation. It was inspired by the Island of Puerto Rico. A Puerto Rican Created this using his inspirations and named it the Jibarito. It's a crispy plantain sandwhich layered with Ketchup-Mayo sauce, nice crispy skirt steak, then topped with lettuce and tomato! I make this once a week!
Here are the things you will need:
Green Plantains 2 each
Skirt Steak 1 lb
Sazon as needed
Salt As needed to season
Black Pepper coarse As needed to season
Vegetable oil As needed to fry
Mayo 1/2 cup
Ketchup 1/2 cup
Roma tomato 1 each
Onion 1/4 each
Romaine lettuce as needed for topping
Step 1 : Place the plantain on a cutting board and trim the top and bottom. Cut the plantain through the center and using your fingers, peel the hard shell carefully. In a pan add enough oil to cover the plantains. Fry the plantains half in oil for about 4 minutes on each side and the plantains have turned golden yellow but not completely fried. Then drain in paper towels.
Step 2 : If you don't have a tortilla press, use a cutting board. I love using a cutting board because everyone has one. Grab a plastic bag or parchment paper and fold in half. Then place the plantains one by one in between the parchment and use the cutting board to press it and mash it about 1/8 inch flat. If you cant press it because its too hard, that means it needs more time frying. It should be soft enough to press but not mushy. If you have garlic, mash the clove and brush the plantains with it to infuse flavor and save the garlic fro something else or the aioli sauce if you're making it. Season with sazon and fry again until crispy. About 3 minutes on each side.
Step 3 : Slice all the tomatoes and onions in slices like for sandwiches. Also tear the lettuce into sizes big enough to fit on the sandwiches. Each plantain gives you the top and bottom piece. Smear either the ketchup-mayo or aioli on the top and bottom slices on each. Then layer the steak on the bottom. Then top it off with tomato slices, onions and lettuce. Then top it with the top piece and provecho. This should give you two sandwiches. You can replace the meat for grilled chicken or lechon.