This Jibarito Sandwich also known as Sandwich de Toston (Plantain and Steak Sandwich) is one of Puerto Rico’s quintessential sandwiches. Easy, quick to put together and absolutely delicious!
This delicious simple sandwich is not only known as a Jibarito Sandwich, but also as, Sandwich de Toston and Sandwich de Platano.
Simply put, it is a Green Plantain Steak Sandwich filled with simple ingredients that all combined together, create the perfect sandwich.
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What is a Jibarito Sandwich?
This sandwich is best known for using fried green plantain halves versus bread.
The center is filled with steak, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and smothered in mayoketchup sauce.
It is one of the most popular sandwiches you will find being sold and served out of roadside food trucks and kiosks.
If you have never had one, today is the day to make one from the comfort of your home.
Incredibly easy to put together and a sandwich everyone in the family will love!
Reasons to Love this Recipe
- Variety and Change – making something different for yourself and your family is always rewarding. Simply changing bread for plantains, brings something different while delicious!
- Easy and Quick – the hardest part of this recipe is frying up the plantain halves. Once you have that part done, everything else is a breeze!
- Steak Cuts – although I prefer to use skirt steak (churrasco) for this recipe, breakfast or thin round steaks ( what I used for this recipe) work excellently.
Pro Tip – Go with a cut of skirt steak if you can find it. Skirt steak is my favorite. It’s super tender and highly flavorful for this recipe.
Ingredients
Green Plantains – the “bread” to this sandwich and honestly better than bread.
Steak – churrasco is the best cut for this recipe, however, my butcher had none so I used thin round steaks.
Lettuce, tomatoes, onions – use romaine, iceburg, red leaf or any other variety of lettuce. For the tomatoes, use beef steak or roma, these work best. Use white or red onions.
Spices – oregano, garlic puree, adobo and oil are sprinkled and rubbed on steaks.
MayoKetchup – is a super popular sauce added to sandwiches, salads and appetizers. For example, you will always find sorullitos (fried corn sticks) served with a side of mayoketchup.
See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
How to Make Jibarito Sandwich (Sandwich de Toston)
- Season each of the steaks with the garlic puree, adobo, oregano and add 2 tablespoons of all. Stir the steaks and allow them to marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Cut the ends off the plantains and then use a sharp knife to score it lengthwise, careful not to cut into the flesh.
- Using your finger tips, pry the skin and peel it off.
- Lay the peeled plantains on a cutting board and slice each in half horizontally.
- You will now four halves.
Frying the Plantain Halves
Note: You will fry the plantains twice.
- Add about half an inch of oil to a pan or skillet over medium heat.
- When the oil has heated through, add 2 plantain halves to the skillet. (Do not overcrowd the pan) Cook until lightly golden on one side.
- Carefully, flip the plantains over and cook until lightly golden. Drain the plantains on a plate lined with a paper towel.
- Repeat the process and fry the other plantain halves.
- Using a clean plate, press down on one plantain at a time to flatten.
- Once all the halves have been flatten, refry them one last time to fully cook through. Drain on paper towels, season with salt and set aside until ready to make sandwiches.
- Heat another skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with oil.
- Add the steak and cook it to your desired liking on one side.
- Flip it over and again, cook to your liking. Remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside.
- Spread mayoketchup on both sides of the plantain halves.
*MayoKetchup Recipe below in recipe card.
- Lay the steak on one slice of plantain.
- Top with onions and tomatoes.
Note: You can also add some cheese slices to your sandwich.
- Top with lettuce of your choice and lay the other half of the plantain on top.
- Repeat the same process with remaining plantain halves and steak to make a second sandwich.
- Cut plantain sandwiches in half and serve.
Note: I like to serve with a side of mayoketchup and cilantro garlic aioli. Recipe below in recipe card.
What Can I Pair this Sandwich with?
This sandwich is great on its own, served with a side of fries or tossed salad.
Variations
What is the Best Steak to Use for this Recipe?
- I normally prefer to use churrasco (skirt steak) in a plantain sandwich because it’s really flavorful, holds a marinade well and cooks tender. However, using thin steaks like a breakfast thin beef round is very common. Thin beef round is what I used for this recipe.
Can I Add Cheese to this Sandwich or Will it Alter the Taste?
- A lot of people use sharp cheddar, American or Mozzarella cheese. This is all personal preference. Use what you like or do not add any at all.
What Else Can I Add to this Sandwich?
- The original Jibarito or Sandwich de Toston was made with mayoketchup, steak, cheese, onions and lettuce. Today, this sandwich has many additional add-ons like avocado, sauteed onions and even mushrooms. They’re all delicious! Add what you like!
Can I Make this Sandwich Ahead of Time?
I wouldn’t recommend doing so. This sandwich is best when made fresh.
The plantains tend to dry and steak will not be as juicy and tender.
Other Plantain Dishes You Will Love
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📖 Recipe
Jibarito Sandwich (Sandwich de Toston)
Ingredients
- 2 green plantains peeled and sliced in half horizontally
- 2-3 steak churrasco (skirt steak), thin beef round or breakfast steak
- lettuce, tomatoes and red onions as much or as little of your liking
- oil for frying plantains
- salt to taste sprinkled on top of plantain halves
Marinade for Steaks
- ½-1 teaspoon dry oregano
- 3 tablespoons garlic puree
- adobo sprinkled on steaks
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
MayoKetchup Sauce
- 3 tablespoons mayonaisse
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- salt to taste
Garlic Cilantro Aioli
- 3 tablespoons light olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1-2 sprigs fresh cilantro rinsed and finely chopped
Instructions
MayoKetchup
- In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup and garlic well with a fork.Add salt to taste and mix again. Cover and set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Garlic Cilantro Aioli
- Mix the garlic, cilantro and garlic in a small bowl and set aside until ready to use.
Marinade Steaks
- Season each of the steaks with the garlic puree, adobo, oregano and add 2 tablespoons of all. Stir the steaks and allow them to marinate for 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Plantains
- Cut the ends off the plantains and then use a sharp knife to score it lengthwise, careful not to cut into the flesh.
- Using your finger tips, pry the skin and peel it off.
- Lay the peeled plantains on a cutting board and slice each in half horizontally.You will now four halves.
Frying the Plantain Halves
- Note: You will fry the plantains twice.Add about half an inch of oil to a pan or skillet over medium heat.
- When the oil has heated through, add 2 plantain halves to the skillet. (Do not overcrowd the pan) Cook until lightly golden on one side.
- Carefully, flip the plantains over and cook until lightly golden. Drain the plantains on a plate lined with a paper towel.
- Repeat the process and fry the other plantain halves.
- Using a clean plate, press down on one plantain at a time to flatten.
- Once all the halves have been flatten, refry them one last time to fully cook through. Drain on paper towels, season with salt and set aside until ready to make sandwiches.
Cooking the Steaks
- Heat another skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with oil.
- Flip it over and again, cook it to your liking. Remove the steak from the skillet and set it aside.
Assemble Sandwiches
- Spread mayoketchup on both sides of the plantain halves.
- Lay the steak on one slice of plantain.
- Top with onions and tomatoes.Note: You can also add some cheese slices to your sandwich.
- Top with lettuce of your choice and lay the other half of the plantain on top.
- Repeat the same process with the remaining plantain halves and steak to make a second sandwich.
- Cut plantain sandwiches in half and serve.Serve with a side of the mayoketchup and cilantro garlic aioli for dunking.You can also top the sandwiches with the garlic aioli! YUM!
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