Alcapurrias

Alcapurrias are a popular Puerto Rican fritter that’s especially common at street food stands, festivals, and family gatherings.. They’re made by grating a mix of green bananas and yautía (taro root) to form a starchy dough called the masa. The masa is seasoned with achiote oil, garlic, and salt for flavor and sazón for color. This dough is gluten free. The dough is then flattened, filled with a savory mixture (often ground beef, chicken, or vegetarian fillings), carefully shaped into a torpedo or oval form, and deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.

Yield 8 medium alcapurrias

Ingredients:

• Dough

  • 3 green bananas

  • 1lb of taro root (yautia)

  • 1/2 tbsp sofrito

  • 1tsp salt (or to taste)

  • parchment paper

  • neutral oil, enough for frying

• Filling:

  • 1/2 lb desired protein (ground beef, chicken, mushroom)

  • 1/4 cup diced onion

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce

  • 1/2 tbsp sofrito

Procedure:

1. Peel the green bananas and the taro root and cut in very small pieces, add to a food processor and processed until a homogeneous, paste like dough is obtained. Place the dough in a container, add the sofrito and the salt to the dough, mix well and set aside in the refrigerator while you make the filling.

2. In a pot, over medium heat, sauté the onion, until softened. Add garlic, and sofrito, and cook for one minute.

3. Add the desired protein and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Add the tomato sauce, lower the heat, and cook for approximately 10 minutes.

5. Cut the parchment paper into squares of about 5” each, put a bit of oil in the paper and distribute evenly. Place a 1/4 cup (2oz) of dough in the center of the parchment paper and spread it. In the center of the dough, place two tablespoons of meat. Close the paper from one end to the other and push inward with your hand until the dough is closed with the filling inside and the alcapurria is formed, you can also used a spoon to help shaping the dough.

6. Place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes until firm.

7. Fry in plenty of oil, at high heat, until golden brown on both sides

8. When the alcapurria is golden, remove from oil and let it rest in a paper towel.

9. Enjoy warm.

¡Buen Provecho!