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Plantain Kugel

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

A Caribbean adaptation of the classic Ashkenazi potato kugel.

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Plantain kugel is a Caribbean adaptation of the classic Ashkenazi potato kugel. The perfect mix of sweet and savory, this plantain recipe is the perfect marriage of cultures!

The inspiration for this recipe hails from Colombia, where plantains are a prominent staple of the local diet. But plantains, which look like large bananas, come in a variety of shapes, colors and therefore, preparations.

In Bogota, where my husband is from, ripe plantains are usually fried in oil and served when they are glistening brown and as soft as a banana. The dish is called platanos maduros, Spanish for “ripe plantains”, because you don’t need to embellish when something tastes that good.

The majority of Colombia’s small Jewish population today lives in Bogota, and is largely Ashkenazi. Sephardic Jews first began settling in Colombia in the 16th century, escaping the Inquisition in Spain, and they mostly made their homes further towards the Caribbean coast in Colombia.

It is there - in Cali, Barranquilla and even Medellin - that Jews truly embraced plantains. Cali especially is home to a small Jewish minority - and a surprising growing population of Jewish converts.

In coastal Colombian communities, plantains are cooked in a myriad of ways - and green, or young plantains, are especially prominent. They are usually fried twice and smashed into a dish called patacones (similar to Mexican tostones). You can read more about Colombia’s Jewish community and its cuisine in our Encanto-inspired piece.

In this plantain kugel recipe, I took a classic Joan Nathan kugel recipe, and adapted it to encapsulate the flavor of the green plantains that I learned to love in my husband’s family dishes.

The ideal plantains to use in this kugel are light yellow. They should have a bit of give when you press on them, more similarly to a banana. Fully yellow plantains with a bit of brown are also fine to use. If the plantain is collapsing on itself and is yellow-black, it’s more appropriate for making platanos maduros or being cooked in coconut milk.

Another change from Joan Nathan’s classic potato kugel is that I recommend using coconut oil in your plantain kugel. This healthy fat, which looks white at room temperature but becomes transparent when heated, will give the dish a more Caribbean flavor. You can, of course, use olive oil or vegetable oil as well.

So for your Rosh Hashanah table this year, I suggest you take a trip to the Jewish community of Colombia, and take a page from their recipe book in making this plantain kugel. Served with a side of lime-tinged sour cream, or traditional Colombian aji sauce, this Caribbean kugel is bound to become a new favorite.

Ingredients

Servings 8

For a 9x13 casserole dish:

  • 6-8 green-yellow plantains peeled
  • 1 large onion peeled
  • 4 eggs
  • 3-4 garlic cloves minced finely
  • 6 tablespoons flour or matzah meal
  • teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
  • 1 cup sour cream optional
  • ½ lime juice and zest of
Instructions

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Plantain Kugel
Amount per Serving
Calories
436
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
 
15
g
94
%
Trans Fat
 
0.01
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
3
g
Cholesterol
 
99
mg
33
%
Sodium
 
559
mg
24
%
Potassium
 
682
mg
19
%
Carbohydrates
 
58
g
19
%
Fiber
 
4
g
17
%
Sugar
 
5
g
6
%
Protein
 
6
g
12
%
Vitamin A
 
301
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
30
mg
36
%
Calcium
 
96
mg
10
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C/360°F. Grease a 9x13 casserole dish with coconut oil or your preferred fat.
  • To peel a plantain, cut off its ends. Score the skin lengthwise, then grab a hold of the peel and pull it off without damaging the flesh (the riper a plantain is, the easier it will peel).
  • Grate the 6 plantains and the onion in a food processor, or on the largest holes in a grater. Once grated, strain the liquid in a large strainer, and pat with paper towels until fully dried.
  • OPTIONAL: If you would like to decorate your plantain kugel with whole plantains as pictured above, please slice one plantain into thin long strips and set them aside. Fry the slices in shallow oil until they are yellow and just starting to turn golden, about 3-4 minutes.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk all the eggs together. Add to the grated plantains and onions. Add garlic. Stir with a spatula until fully combined.
  • Add flour (or matzah meal), baking powder, salt, pepper, and coconut oil. Transfer to the greased casserole dish and spread evenly. If desired, top with halves of sliced plantains.
  • Bake plantain kugel in the oven, uncovered, for 45 minutes, until golden brown and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  • You can serve plantain kugel with traditional Colombian aji sauce, or with sour cream (dairy-free sour cream is fine too) with the zest and juice of half a lime grated into it.
  • Take care to wash your hands after dealing with plantains, as they can leave a sticky clingy layer behind.

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