Green Plantains and Ground Turkey One-Pot Meal
Green Plantains and Ground Turkey are a delicious, easy, and flavorful one-pot meal —a complete meal to wow your family at the dinner table.
This one-pot meal is delicious, easy, and nutritious, perfect for busy weeknights. The plantains add a unique flavor and texture to the dish, and the ground turkey is a lean and healthy protein source. This meal is also packed with essential nutrients, making it a complete and satisfying meal for the whole family.
To make this dish, brown ground turkey in a large pot over medium heat. Then, add onion, garlic, allspice, black pepper, and sea salt and cook for about 2 minutes. Add ketchup, lime juice, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes, and cook until the onion is softened and all the ingredients have incorporated well to create a smooth and delicious sauce. Next, cook the plantains with seasoning, mash, layer the dish, and bake it; dinner is ready in no time.
This dish is also very versatile. Add other vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, or yellow squash. You can also serve it with rice, quinoa, or your favorite side dish.
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s discuss the benefits of one-pot meals, the two main ingredients—plantains and ground turkey—and how easy it is to cook with these two ingredients.
Benefits of One-Pot Meals
One-pot meals are a great way to save time and energy in the kitchen. They are also a healthy option, as they often involve cooking various ingredients together, which can preserve nutrients.
Here are some of the benefits of one-pot meals:
- Saves time and energy: One-pot meals are typically quick and easy to prepare, as you only need one pot or pan. This can also save you a lot of time on cleanup.
- Healthier option: One-pot meals often involve cooking various ingredients together, which can preserve nutrients. This is especially true when you cook vegetables in the same pot as your protein source, as the vegetables can absorb some of the nutrients from the protein.
- More affordable: One-pot meals can be cheaper than other meals, as you can often use leftovers or pantry staples to create them.
- Less cleanup: One-pot meals require less cleanup than other meals, as you only need to wash one pot or pan.
Here are some tips for making one-pot meals:
- Choose the right pot or pan: Make sure you choose a pot or pan large enough to hold all of your ingredients. You may also want to choose a pot or pan with a lid to trap the heat and steam. Examples of pots that hold steam well are Dutch ovens and Cast-Iron Tagines.
- Use various ingredients: One-pot meals are a great way to use leftover vegetables or pantry staples. You can add some fresh ingredients to make the meal more flavorful and nutritious.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot: If you overcrowd the pot, the ingredients will not cook evenly. If necessary, cook the ingredients in batches.
- Season the ingredients: Season the ingredients with fragrant and aromatic seasoning blends, fresh herbs and spices, or your favorite condiments or cooking sauces.
- Don’t overcook the ingredients: Overcooking can make the ingredients dry and tough.
One-pot meals are a great way to save time and energy in the kitchen. They are also a healthy and affordable option. Try one of the many one-pot meal recipes available online or in cookbooks. You’re sure to find one that you and your family will enjoy.
Ingredients in the recipe
Plantains
Before we continue, remember that not all plantains are the same. Plantains come in a variety of colors, from green to yellow to black. The color of the plantain indicates its ripeness. Green plantains are starchy and unripe. As they ripen, they turn yellow and then black. Yellow and black plantains are sweeter and softer than green plantains.
- Green Plantains vs. Green Bananas: Green plantains and green bananas are often confused, but they are actually different fruits. Green plantains are starchy fruits, while green bananas are starchy vegetables. Green plantains are also less sweet and have a thicker skin than green bananas.
- Can You Use Green Bananas in This Recipe? Yes, you can use green bananas in this recipe, but you must adjust the cooking time accordingly. Green bananas will take longer to cook than green plantains. You may also want to add more spices to the plantains to lessen their natural sweetness.
- Why Use Green Plantains in This Recipe? Green plantains are a good choice for this recipe because they have a neutral flavor and a firm texture. They hold their shape well when cooked and absorb the flavors of the other ingredients in the dish.
- How to Cook Green Plantains: Green plantains can be cooked in various ways, including frying, baking, or boiling. For this recipe, I recommend broiling the plantains with seasoning until they are soft enough to mash. Overall, plantains are a healthy and delicious food for people of all ages. I encourage you to try them to make dishes of your choice.
- Want to learn how to freeze plantains to make fried plantains, check out this blog post.
Ground Turkey
Ground turkey is a type of ground meat made from ground turkey meat. It is a lean and healthy protein source low in saturated fat and calories. Ground turkey is also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, and selenium.
- It is a lean and healthy protein source that is low in saturated fat and calories. This makes it a good choice for people who are trying to lose weight or reduce their risk of heart disease.
- Good source of vitamins and minerals: Ground turkey is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including iron, zinc, and selenium. Iron is important for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Zinc is important for immune function and cell growth. Selenium is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage.
About the recipe
Ground Turkey is readily available and can be dried and lumpy if not cooked properly. For this recipe, I would recommend pan-frying the ground turkey before adding any tomato sauce or spices. The reason is that ground turkey is more manageable without herbs and some spices or sauce when cooking. Once all the lumps are broken down, which can easily be done with a large spoon, fork, or even a potato masher, it is time to start spicing it.
When preparing this dish, the amount of moisture needed for the green plantains will have to be measured by you, the cook. This is where you will need to observe and taste – it all depends on your preference. Not all green plantains are the same, and the amount of moisture in a plantain also differs. So, when mashing the plantains, add enough heavy cream to keep them soft. You may also want to add a little bit of the cooking liquid.
Why Lemon or Vinegar is Important in this Dish
Adding the right amount of herbs, spices, and tomato sauce is not enough to make a delicious turkey dish. A little acidity is also needed.
Acidity removes the foul odor that a turkey can sometimes have. It also adds flavor and helps break down the meat even more.
The two most common acidic agents used in cooking are lemon juice and vinegar. There are many different types of vinegar, but any kind will work for this dish. Just be careful with the amount, as some types of vinegar are stronger than others.
Fresh lemon juice is the preferred acidity for this dish. It adds a bright, citrusy flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.
Tips for Adding Acid to Turkey Dishes
- Add the acid to the turkey before cooking. This will help to marinate the meat and infuse it with flavor.
- If you use vinegar, dilute it with water before adding it to the turkey. This will help to prevent the vinegar from overpowering the other flavors.
- Start with a small amount of acid and add more to taste.
Adding a little acidity to your turkey dishes can improve their flavor, texture, and aroma.
Green Plantains and Ground Turkey One-Pot Meal
This one-pot meal is a delicious and easy way to get dinner on the table in no time. It’s also a versatile dish that can be customized to your liking.
This dish’s plantains and ground turkey remind me of other Latin dishes, such as Cuban-style Beef and Plantain Pie. However, this version is much easier to make and doesn’t require any special ingredients.
This dish is also similar to a Shepherd’s Pie or Pâté Chinois. Both recipes inspired me to create this one-pot meal.
Tips for Making Plantains and Ground Turkey One-Pot Meal
- Use ripe plantains for a sweeter flavor.
- If you don’t have any plantains, you can use sweet potatoes or yams instead.
- Add other vegetables to the dish, such as bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
- Use different spices to customize the flavor of the dish. For example, you could add cumin, chili powder, or paprika.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for a spicier dish.
- You can also make this dish ahead of time and freeze it. Simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it in the oven or on the stovetop when you’re ready to eat.
- Serve the dish with rice, quinoa, or your favorite side salad.
I hope you enjoy this delicious and easy one-pot meal!
This Green Plantains and Ground Turkey One-Pot Meal is a delicious, easy, and nutritious dish that is perfect for the whole family. Give it a try tonight!
Source:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-vs-chicken#white-meat
Green Plantains and Ground Turkey One-Pot Meal
Equipment
- Fork or Potato Masher
Ingredients
For Plantains
- 3 – 4 regular size plantains peeled and cut 1 inch thick
- 2 scallions chopped
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper finely chopped
- 1 ½ cup water or enough water to cover plantains
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil or olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese plus more for topping
For Ground Turkey
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon lime or lemon Juice
- 2 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/4 Noubess Original Hot and Spicy Sauce optional
Instructions
- Peel plantains and cut in about 1 inch slices. Add plantains slices, scallions, garlic and hot pepper if using to a heavy bottom pan or pot, and fill with water until the pieces are fully covered.
- Meanwhile, heat up a large skillet on medium high heat, add olive oil and ground turkey. Break chunks of meat and stirring occasionally cook turkey until all the juice has been released and completely gone – about 7 to 10 minutes.
- Add garlic, allspice, black pepper, and sea salt and let cook for about 2 minutes. Add ketchup, lime juice, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Set aside.
- Once plantains pieces are fully cooked, with a potato masher, mash all pieces. (do not remove scallions or garlic). Add coconut oil, cream and cheese to plantain mixture and mix well.
- In a prepared baking dish, layer ground turkey meat first and cover with plantains mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top and dot with butter.
- Bake in a 350 degree Fahrenheit preheated oven for 40 – 45 minutes. Remove and let cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Best served with salad.
Nutrition
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
Aloha, Your recipe and directions are wonderful. Im ready to try it. I have a bunch of plantains to cut down and found your page while wondering how i could use them besides just frying them.
I have a question. I can not eat cream from dairy cow, So im wondering if you think I could substitute canned coconut milk for the cream.
thank you for your wonderful recipes!
V
Aloha! Thank you for visiting us. To answer your question, I would not recommend using canned coconut cream because it contains sugar. I would use either tofu or soymilk. Check out this link for more information about substituting heavy cream: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/heavy-cream-substitutes.
Again, thanks so much for visiting us. Feel to check our more recipes.