Baked Cassava Flatbread Pie with Stewed Black Beans, Sweet Plantain and White Cheese Crust

Instructions

1. 1

   1. Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C. Lightly grease a round or square baking dish with the butter and set aside.

2. 2

   2. Heat 2 tablespoons of annatto oil or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, sweet Venezuelan pepper, and garlic; sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until the onion turns translucent.

3. 3

   3. Stir in the chopped tomato, cumin, oregano, 1 teaspoon of salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3 more minutes, stirring, until the tomato softens.

4. 4

   4. Add the cooked black beans, vegetable broth or water, and grated panela. Cook over medium-low heat for 8 to 10 minutes, lightly mashing a small portion of the beans with a spoon so the filling becomes creamy but still textured. Adjust salt if needed and stir in the fresh cilantro. Remove from the heat.

5. 5

   5. While the bean mixture cooks, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in another skillet over medium heat. Brown the ripe plantain slices for 2 to 3 minutes per side until deeply caramelized and tender. Transfer to a plate.

6. 6

   6. Lightly moisten one cassava flatbread with a few drops of water to make it more flexible without soaking it. Place it in the baking dish as the base; if needed, break off some edges to better cover the surface. Reserve the second flatbread for the topping.

7. 7

   7. Spread half of the grated white cheese over the cassava base. Then evenly spoon over the black bean filling. Arrange the browned ripe plantain slices on top and finish with the remaining grated white cheese.

8. 8

   8. Break the second cassava flatbread into large pieces and place them rustic-style on top, leaving a few openings so steam can escape and some cheese remains visible.

9. 9

   9. Bake the pie for 20 minutes at 375°F / 190°C, or until the cheese is browned and the top cassava flatbread looks crisp around the edges.

10. 10

    10. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving so the filling can set. Serve hot or warm.