This traditional Puerto Rican fritter dish is hearty and full of flavor. The dough is very wet and pliable--similar to the masa mixture for a tamale--and may take a minute to get used to working with. Because it is so soft, the fritters may stick to the bottom when you drop them in the pot. If this happens, let the dough set for about 30 seconds and then gently dislodge the fritters from the bottom until they float.

Recipe by MyRecipes September 2016

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Credit: Greg DuPree; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Torie Cox

Recipe Summary

active:
40 mins
total:
1 hr 45 mins
Yield:
Serves 8 (serving size: 3 alcapurrias)
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Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

Directions

Instructions Checklist
  • Process plantains, yautia root, and salt in a food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides occasionally. Place mixture in a bowl; cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside.

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  • Place raisins in a heatproof bowl. Bring rum to a boil in a small saucepan over medium, and simmer 2 minutes. Pour rum over raisins, and let stand 20 minutes. Drain.

  • Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over high. Add beef, and cook, stirring until browned and crumbled, about 6 minutes Add onion, sofrito, garlic, and sazón seasoning, and cook, stirring often, until onions are very soft, about 5 minutes. Add broth, bring to a boil, and cook until mixture resembles cooked taco meat (wet but not saucy), about 5 minutes. Stir in raisins; transfer mixture to a bowl, and cool to room temperature.

  • Shape plantain mixture into 24 (3- x 2-inch) rectangles on a large piece of wax paper on a work surface. Spoon 2 teaspoons beef mixture down center of each rectangle. Using a small offset spatula or butter knife, fold the long side of the plantain masa rectangle over beef mixture. Using your hands, form a log, gently pressing to seal and making sure beef mixture stays in the middle. Carefully transfer logs to a wax paper-lined large baking sheet, and chill 30 minutes.

  • Heat oil to 330°F in a large Dutch oven over medium. Gently add 6 to 8 fritters to hot oil. Fry 30 seconds, making sure fritters aren’t sticking on bottom. (Gently loosen any fritters from bottom so they float in the oil, if necessary.) Fry until light golden brown and is cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes, gently stirring occasionally. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with additional sazón seasoning.

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