Creole Sweet Plantain Cannelloni with Panela Turkey and Sweet Pepper Bechamel

Venezuelan Food

Intermediate

Creole Sweet Plantain Cannelloni with Panela Turkey and Sweet Pepper Bechamel

Name: Creole Sweet Plantain Cannelloni with Panela Turkey and Sweet Pepper Bechamel
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Venezolana
Ingredients: about 2 lb large ripe plantains; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1.1 lb ground turkey; 1 cup white onion; 1 cup Venezuelan sweet pepper; 3 cloves garlic; 1 cup ripe tomato; 1 tbsp grated panela; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp butter; 3 tbsp wheat flour; 2 cups whole milk; 5.5 oz semi-hard white cheese, grated; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; 2 tbsp fresh cilantro

An original recipe inspired by Venezuelan flavors: roasted sweet plantain slices are rolled around a juicy turkey filling with sweet pepper, onion, tomato, and a touch of panela, then covered with a mild sweet pepper bechamel and topped with melted white cheese.

30 minPrep

45 minCook

75 minTotal

6Servings

High Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

3 approx. 900 g large ripe plantains (pelados and cut a lo largo thinly sliced finas)
30 ml vegetable oil (divided)
500 g ground turkey (for the relleno)
150 g white onion (chopped diced small)
120 g Venezuelan sweet pepper (without semillas and chopped, divided)
9 g garlic (chopped)
180 g ripe tomato (chopped diced small)
12 g grated panela (or piloncillo grated)
2 g ground cumin
1 g dried oregano
8 g salt (divided, or to taste)
2 g black pepper (divided)
30 g butter (for the bechamel)
24 g wheat flour (for the bechamel)
480 ml whole milk (tibia)
160 g semi-hard white cheese, grated (divided)
0.5 g nutmeg
10 g fresh cilantro (chopped, for terminar)

Nutrition facts

per serving

416 kcal

Calories

26 g

Protein

28 g

Carbs

22 g

Fat

3 g

Fiber

25 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

GlutenDairy

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C / 400 °F. Lightly grease a large baking tray with some of the vegetable oil.
2
2. Arrange the sweet plantain slices on the tray in a single layer, brush them with 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil, and bake for 12 to 15 minutes at 200 °C / 400 °F, turning halfway through, until flexible and lightly golden. Set aside.
3
3. While the plantains roast, heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, half of the sweet pepper, and the garlic; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until fragrant and soft.
4
4. Add the ground turkey and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until no longer pink.
5
5. Stir in the tomato, grated panela, cumin, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook 6 to 8 minutes more until the filling is moist but not watery. Remove from the heat and set aside.
6
6. For the bechamel, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the wheat flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
7
7. Gradually pour in the warm whole milk while whisking to prevent lumps. Add the remaining sweet pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and the nutmeg. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
8
8. Add 60 g (about 2 oz) of the grated white cheese to the bechamel and stir until melted. Remove from the heat.
9
9. Lower the oven temperature to 190 °C / 375 °F. Spread a thin layer of bechamel on the bottom of a baking dish.
10
10. Take each sweet plantain slice, place a portion of the turkey filling on one end, and gently roll it up. Arrange the rolls seam-side down in the dish.
11
11. Cover the cannelloni with the remaining bechamel and sprinkle the remaining 100 g (about 3.5 oz) grated white cheese on top.
12
12. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes at 190 °C / 375 °F, until the cheese is melted and lightly golden. For more color, broil for 2 additional minutes, watching closely.
13
13. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving and finish with the chopped fresh cilantro on top.

Chef tips

Choose very ripe plantains with heavily speckled yellow or nearly black skin so the slices are sweet and flexible. If one slice tears, overlap two slices to form a cannelloni without any problem.

Substitutions

You can replace the turkey with ground chicken. The semi-hard white cheese can be swapped for low-moisture mozzarella if Venezuelan cheese is unavailable. Panela can be replaced with brown sugar in the same amount.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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