Vegan Mofongo (Puerto Rican)

Learn how to make a vegan non traditional spin on a traditional Puerto Rican dish known as Mofongo. My version reduces the amount of oil being used, by roasting instead of frying, the green plantains which are made into a mash with a side serving of seasoned vegan mock meat.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Puerto Rico

Prep Time 45

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 45

Servings people

Calories 356kcal

Author Charla

Ingredients

For the mock meat seasoning

2 14 oz can of young green jackfruit (400ml x 2) drained and shredded
1 tablespoon sazon seasoning (8g)
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (2g)
1 teaspoon oregano (2g)
½ teaspoon black pepper (2g)
½ teaspoon pink salt (1g)

To cook the mock meat

2 tablespoon olive oil (3g)
4 garlic cloves minced
1 small red onion sliced
1 tablespoon sofrito (14)
1 tablespoon tomato puree (16g)
1½ cups vegetable broth (355ml)

To make the mofongo

4 green plantains (platanos)
2 tablespoon dairy free butter (28g)
1 tablespoon sazon seasoning (8g)
black pepper and pink salt to taste
vegetable broth for moulding the mofongo about ¾ cup worth

Instructions

To season and cook the vegan meat

Place the jackfruit in a medium sized bowl, to shred the jackfruit, you will need to slice off the core and discard it, then using your hands or a pair of sterilised kitchen scissors to shred the jackfruit then set aside.
Season the jackfruit with sazon, smoked paprika, oregano, black pepper and pink salt.
Heat a skillet on medium heat with olive oil, then proceed to saute the red onion and garlic until soft and transparent.
Add the seasoned jackfruit, sofrito then proceed to sear for several minutes.
Stir in the tomato puree and vegetable broth.
Bring the pan/skillet to a rolling boil, stir and, cover with a lid and allow to simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes (if the liquid evaporates too much add a splash of water, so keep watchful eye on things as it simmers away).
Once cooked, do a taste test, adjust for black pepper and pink salt then set aside.

To prepare the plantain

Preheat the oven to 200C/356F.
Line a baking tray with parchment paper, coat with olive oil and set aside.
Place the plantain on a chopping board.
Use a paring knife to slice off both ends of the plantain.
Then lightly score lengthways down the plantain (not too deep).
Use your thumb to pull the skin away from the flesh and discard the skin. Repeat the above step with the rest of the plantain.
Cut the plantain into chunky slices and set aside.
Place the plantain on the baking tray then coat the slices with oil.
Bake the plantains until they are light brown in colour and slightly crispy, keep an eye on them as the baking time will vary (mine took roughly 20 minutes).

To make the mofongo

Once baked, add the plantain to your pilón or food processor (you may need to do this in intervals) if you are using one instead.
Along with the dairy free butter and sazon.
Mash the plantain add the dairy free butter, sazon, and vegetable broth a tablespoon at a time until slightly smooth (if you are using a food processor, you will want to pulse (on and off) to achieve the same results.
Add the rest of the plantain, adding a tablespoon of broth at a time.
Do a test taste and add black pepper and pink salt to taste.
Place the mashed plantain in a small, deep bowl, pressing down with the bowl upright to make a cup mould.
Place a plate over the top of the bowl, flip it over, the plantain should slide onto the surface of the plate shaped like a dome.
Repeat the above step if necessary with the remaining plantain.
Serve with the vegan meat.

Notes

You need green plantain for this recipe NOT green banana (they are NOT the same thing).
This is the recipe that I used to make the Sazon Seasoning.
This is the recipe that I used for the Vegetable Broth.
Be sure to do a taste test of the mofongo and "mock meat" as you go along and adjust according to your desire.
Start by making the "meat" first then make the mofongo as it is better to serve it immediately and not have the mofongo sitting around for a while.
Yellow plantain doesn't work for this recipe, it has to be GREEN.
You can purchase green plantain at any supermarket/grocery store that is frequented by latinos/African or Caribbean people.
If you don't have a wooden pilón (mortar and pestle) use a regular food processor instead.
I wouldn't recommend using a blender as that might make the texture too smooth and/or pureed.
I don't recommend boiling the green plantain, roasting yields a better texture however if you want to eliminate the use of oil then boiling is your best bet.

Nutrition