Jibarito (Plantain Steak Sandwich)
A steak sandwich where the bread is replaced by two big, crispy flattened green plantains, filled with thin steak, cheese, lettuce, tomato and garlic mayonnaise. Born in Chicago's Puerto Rican community.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Make the garlic mayo
Mix the mayonnaise with the crushed garlic until smooth and evenly combined.
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 cloves crushed garlic
✅ Done when: mayo looks smooth and evenly speckled with garlic
First fry of the plantains
Peel the plantains and cut each in half lengthwise. In a medium pot (about 20 cm / 8 in wide), heat the oil to 170°C (340°F) and fry the halves for 4-5 minutes until pale golden. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving the oil in the pot for later.
- 2 green plantains
- 500 ml vegetable oil
✅ Done when: pale golden and soft enough to pierce easily with a fork
Flatten
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Second fry
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Cook the steak
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Assemble
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Make the garlic mayo
Mix the mayonnaise with the crushed garlic until smooth and evenly combined.
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 cloves crushed garlic
✅ Done when: mayo looks smooth and evenly speckled with garlic
First fry of the plantains
Peel the plantains and cut each in half lengthwise. In a medium pot (about 20 cm / 8 in wide), heat the oil to 170°C (340°F) and fry the halves for 4-5 minutes until pale golden. Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving the oil in the pot for later.
- 2 green plantains
- 500 ml vegetable oil
✅ Done when: pale golden and soft enough to pierce easily with a fork
Flatten
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Second fry
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Cook the steak
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Assemble
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The Story Behind the Dish
The jibarito was created in 1996 at a Puerto Rican restaurant in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighbourhood, inspired by a Venezuelan sandwich that used plantains instead of bread.
Its name comes from jíbaro, the word for Puerto Rico's rural mountain farmers, and it has since spread back to the island.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Crispy plantain 'bread' makes it one of the most creative sandwiches of the Puerto Rican diaspora.
💡 Fun Fact
Chicago now has a whole family of jibaritos, filled with chicken, pork or even vegetarian fillings.
Chicago (Humboldt Park)
41.90°N, -87.72°W
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