Trini Pastelles | Similar to Hallacas, Tamales & Pasteles

Corn flour dough
• 2 cups of fine cornmeal/corn flour/masa harina (I used Pan Yellow Cornmeal)
• 2.5 cups of hot water/hot coconut milk/hot chicken stock
• 5 tbsps of butter
• 2 tsps of salt (if using unsalted butter)
• 2 tsps of green seasoning
Meat Filling
• 2 lbs of ground beef, chicken, pork, turkey, bison, lamb, shrimp, fish, soya, lentils etc. I used 73/27 ground beef
• 1 tbsp avocado oil
• 8-10 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 5 pimento peppers
• Hot pepper (optional)
• 1 cup of chopped scallion/chive
• 3-5 sprigs of fresh thyme
• 1/4 cup of chopped bandhania
• 1/2 cup of chopped celery
• 1/2 cup of chopped parsely
• 1/4 cup of roucou/annatto/achiote
• 1/4 cup of tomato paste + ketchup
• A few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
• 2 dashes of Angostura bitters
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1/4 cup of capers, chopped
• 1/4 cup of stuffed olives, sliced
• 2 tsps of salt + 2 tsps of black pepper
• 1 bay leaf (fresh)
• 1 tbsp of sugar
• 12 pieces of 9"x9" or 9"x10" banana leaves
• Kitchen twine if tying (12 2ft pieces)
• Foil or parchment paper (12"x12")
• Pastelle/tortilla press (optional)
Steam/boil for 45 mins
Pressure cook in the InstantPot for 20 minutes if frozen and 15 minutes if fresh.
Bake at 350F for 1 hour

[@esotericbreed6770]

Puerto rican pastels are not made using cornmeal dough. It is made from a blend of green banana , Yautía Linda, and pumpkin. You blend it up and add achiote oil (Also known as annatto oil, made from the seed and olive oil on a very low fame until the colour is extracted and cooled before using. If you put the flame any higher you risk burning the seed, and makeming the oil bitter rendering it useless). You would use this oil both in the dough and on the banana leaf to previous sticking during the cooking process, as the dough is not really the consistency you would know a dough to be. It's more like a paste, so no press necessary. Everything else is as follows minus the raisins.

[@jelinthemix]

A true favorite at Christmas time with swiss ketchup and chow chow (Doh judge the mixture), it does go down rel good.

[@TasteofTrini]

I never had it with ketchup but it's worth a try 🙂

[@jadecummings8093]

I love pastelle too! They are my all-time Christmas dish. Thanks for the recipes!

[@juanitagaiff5170]

Thank you for a very comprehensive instructional video superbly done.God bless

[@WhatsInDePot]

Pastelles are my favorite really great recipe sis

[@TasteofTrini]

Thanks bro!

[@NIGEL530]

Your Pastelles look delicious that tip where you can season the cornmeal takes it up ❤️🎄🎄Wishing you and your family Merry Christmas and Blessings for the New Year 2023 🎄🎄❤️❤️🙏cheers from Orlando

[@RaamiahMorris]

Thank you for this...i was looking for a pastelle recipe! I'm going to try this for the holiday's

[@triciaquacco3986]

Looks amazing I learned allot watching your videos thanks for sharing

[@TasteofTrini]

Awww I'm so happy to hear that ❤️❤️❤️

[@janesmith5414]

Thank you so much for the video....I am able to pass down the tradition to my grandson.....this recipe is the closest to my Auntie's (Yvonne Miller) ....she made the best.... unfortunately the recipes were lost and yours is the closest to what she did...Thank God I used to help her so I remember....by the way raisins is for good luck.😅❤

[@TasteofTrini]

You are so welcome! I feel honored that my recipe is so similar to a traditional one in your family 🙏🏽 happy that I can help you preserve the culture 🩷

[@TRINIYORKER]

So I love Pastels, my Mom made it for years with us but I especially like how you seasoned your corn meal. Thank you 😊 for sharing.

[@TasteofTrini]

Thank you!! Hope you try out the recipe! Happy Holidays to you and your family 🙏🏽🎄

[@TRINIYORKER]

@@TasteofTrini oh yes I am absolutely going to try it probably this Friday coming… I just gotta pick up a few more ingredients and I’ll be all set… You and your family have a happy holiday 🎅 🎄

[@veramcdaniel89]

Didn't see u put Olives or capers 🤔

[@TasteofTrini]

Did you watch the entire video? It's at 5:30

[@deborahsuraj173]

Wow! I sorry I missed your live, wasn't too well around this time of the year. Pastelle on point. All the best for the new year. Blessings and love.

[@cygnet023]

Great recipe

[@triciaramsamooj7855]

Thanks resh definitely trying pastelles this Christmas ❤

[@TasteofTrini]

You're welcome!! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

[@sallygoolabsingh4999]

hi reshmi blessing to a nd your lovely family these pastelle looks ah amazing thank you so much for sharing this lovely recipes 👍👍👍👍💜💚💙💖❤️

[@beautiful.t2395]

Whats the utensil u pressed the cornmeal with ?

[@TasteofTrini]

Pastelle/Tortilla Press

[@airamilona1555]

Has anyone ever tried the baking method?

[@vilmaseusankar2401]

Corn flour is not the same as corn starch

[@TasteofTrini]

It is called that in the UK and I've seen it in the US too. Corn flour is NOT cornmeal though. Only in Trinidad people call it corn flour. I do my research before posting 🙂

[@sandramahadeo4910]

Hi Reshmi that’s looking good my son wants pastel so I’ll have to make for him because I’m making paime to you and your family happy holidays bye.

[@TasteofTrini]

Hi! Such a good mommy 🙂 Happy holidays to you and your family ❤️

[@blessedhighlyfavored5309]

Thanks. Very helpful and informative.

[@TasteofTrini]

So glad it's helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@kmacm6529]

Looks delicious Reshmi. My kids love pastelles. I will give your recipe a try. If I want to make the pastelles in advance and freeze, is it best to make them cooked or uncookeed? I prefer to steam the pastelles, so based on the method chosen, when I thaw them how long should I steam them for? Could a bamboo steamer work? Also along with the fig leaf which alumnium foil is best to use? I noticed the foil gets discoloured after steaming

[@TasteofTrini]

Thank you! I suggest only cooking them when you're ready to eat. Make them, freeze and them steam when you're ready to eat. Yes a bamboo steamer will work and 1 hour should be sufficient. I use the Kirkland Brand or Reynolds but I think once it sits in the heat for a while they all get discolored. Since you're steaming and not boiling, you can omit the foil altogether

[@kmacm6529]

@@TasteofTrini Thank you

[@CheriCharles]

@@TasteofTrini Great video...inspired to try. I've never seen the parchment paper method before, does the paper stay intact during steaming?

[@crystalmansano6285]

You made this look so easy 😢 gonna give it a try next week wish me luck😊 how many pastels did this measurement make?

[@TasteofTrini]

Hi!! You'll do great! This made 1 dozen pastelles.

[@crystalmansano6285]

@@TasteofTrini thanks 😊

[@lilylovely007]

Nice!! ❤❤. How long do you steam them for in the instant pot?

[@TasteofTrini]

Hi! You can use the steam setting and do it for 45 minutes but I use the pressure cook setting for 15 minutes and 20 minutes if it's frozen

[@Tasha868]

So you boil first then freeze??

[@TasteofTrini]

Hey, no I usually freeze first and then steam I'm ready to eat.

[@Tasha868]

@@TasteofTrini thank you

[@heathertaylor282]

Well done Thanks for sharing, happy holidays

[@TasteofTrini]

Thank you so much! Happy holidays!

[@sybilghouralal-milne1910]

About to try my hand at making Trini pastelles for the first time, I’ve watched several videos on how to make these and I’ve decided that this is the recipe I’m going with… I’ll have to improvise a little here and there as I’m in the uk but I’ll let you know how it goes. Thank you 🇹🇹🫶🏽

[@TasteofTrini]

Yayy! Happy pastelle making! 🩷