Piononos or Piononos Boricuas (Stuffed Sweet Plantains) are savory pockets or rolls stuffed with carne molida (picadillo) and topped with a cheesy blanket of yummy gooeyness!
In Puerto Rico, as in many other parts of Latin America, you never run out of ways to cook plantains! As we see in this savory dish of piononos.
What are Piononos Boricuas or Piononos de Puerto Rico?
This savory concoction is built around vertically sliced plantains that are first fried (or baked), then rolled and stuffed with a delicious filling of carne molida (picadillo) and topped with cheese.
This dish is commonly found all around the island and eaten as a snack, appetizer, lunch or served alongside rice and beans.
Very similar to pastelon, another amazing Puerto Rican plantain dish, you can easily and quickly make these at home.
So, if you have never had Piononos de Puerto Rico but love plantains, I can promise you, you are truly in for a delicious treat!
Ingredients to Make Piononos
- 3 ripe yellow plantains
- carne molida
- shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- oil for frying
- toothpicks to hold piononos together
Note: When choosing the plantains for this recipe, it is important to use plantains that are yellow with just a few black spots and not plantains that are too ripe. Plantains that have mostly black skin will not be able to hold the beef filling. So choose plantains that are yellow with a few black spots on the skin to produce the best piononos recipe.
How to Make Piononos Boricuas
Begin with making a batch of savory carne molida beef filling. Follow link for recipe.
After making your filling, you can now begin working with the plantains.
- Using a knife, cut the ends of the plantains.
- Gently score the plantains lengthwise with the knife and cut through the skin without cutting into the flesh.
- Gently pry the skin with your finger tip at one end and running it down the banana to peel skin.
- Slice the plantains vertically into thin slivers as pictured below.
- Add about half an inch of vegetable or corn oil to a skillet over medium heat.
- Fry plantains on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Allow plantains to cool for a few minutes.
- Form plantains into pinwheels and secure with a toothpick.
- Lightly beat two eggs and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fill the center of each pionono pinwheel with the beef filling and press down lightly.
- Using a spoon, drizzle beaten egg on top of each pionono. This will help keep the meat filling together.
- At this point, you can either top each pionono with cheese or leave as is if you prefer your piononos without it.
- Using a spatula, carefully lift each pionono and place in a greased baking sheet or casserole.
- Bake piononos for 15 minutes until heated through and cheese has melted.
Carefully remove toothpicks and serve.
What to Serve Piononos Boricuas With
- Serve alone
- Alongside avocado slices
- With tossed salad
- A side of vegetables
- Alongside arroz blanco (white rice) and habichuelas guisadas (Puerto Rican stewed beans)
Can You Premake Piononos Ahead of Time?
You sure can!
First Method
You can assemble piononos (without cheese) ahead of time and place in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
When you’re ready to cook, top with cheese and place in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until fully heated through.
Second Method
You can fully assemble and cook piononos, cover and refrigerate.
When ready to eat, simply place in a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes to heat through.
Can You Fully Bake Piononos?
Yes! Although, I prefer to first fry the plantain slices and then bake the piononos for the final stage, you can fully fry or fully bake these from beginning to end.
You will find full instructions for both methods below in recipe card.
What Other Dishes Can I Make with Plantains?
Although there are a thousand ways to cook with plantains, here are a two other dishes you are sure to love!
Mofongo con Camarones (Green garlic plantain mash filled with plump succulent shrimps in a salsa criolla sauce. One of the most delicious dishes you will ever eat!)
Bolon de Verde (Small plantain balls made with green plantains and stuffed with cheese. Excellent for breakfast, snack or party dish)
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📖 Recipe
Piononos Boricuas
Ingredients
- 3 ripe plantains (yellow with a few black spots) peeled
- carne molida recipe
- shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- oil for frying
- toothpicks to hold piononos together
Instructions
Carne Molida (Puerto Rican Picadillo)
- Follow the recipe for carne molida.
Plantains
- Using a knife, cut the ends of the plantains.Gently score the plantains lengthwise with the knife and cut through the skin without cutting into the flesh.Gently pry the skin with your finger tip at one end and running it down the banana to peel skin.Slice the plantains vertically into thin slivers.
- Add about half an inch of vegetable or corn oil to a skillet over medium heat.Fry plantains on both sides until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.Note: Do not overcrowd skillet or plantain slivers will be too soggy and hold excess oil.
- Allow plantains to cool for a few minutes.
- Form plantains into pinwheels and secure with a toothpick.
- Lightly beat two eggs and set aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Fill the center of each pionono pinwheel with the beef filling and press down lightly.
- Using a spoon, drizzle beaten egg on top of each pionono. This will help keep the meat filling together.
- At this point, you can either top each pionono with cheese or leave as is if you prefer your piononos without it.
- Using a spatula, carefully lift each pionono and place in a greased baking sheet or casserole.
- Bake piononos for 15 minutes until heated through and cheese has melted.
- Carefully remove toothpicks and serve.
Method for Baking Plantains Slices
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and lay plantain slices in a single layer.
- Lightly spray plantain slices and bake for about 10 minutes before turning over.
- Continue baking for another 10 minutes or until plantain slices are slightly golden brown.
- Proceed with the same exact steps as above from starting from step 3 through 11.
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