Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew
Hearty one-pot stew with tender pork, sweet plantains, and rich tomato sofrito, slow-cooked to perfection. This puerto rican-inspired one pot ready in about 145 minutes pairs tablespoons olive oil, large, diced onion, diced green bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 pound, cut into 1-inch cubes pork shoulder
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large, diced onion
- 1, diced green bell pepper
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 ripe, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick plantains
- 2 tablespoons, chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high. Brown 1 pound pork shoulder cubes on all sides for 5-6 minutes, then remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Add 1 diced onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Step 3: Stir in 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Return pork to pot, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low for 1.5 hours.
- Step 4: Add 4 sliced plantains to the pot, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes until plantains are tender. Garnish with 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew take to make?
Total time is about 145 minutes (25 min prep + 120 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep tablespoons olive oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Mi Banco's Plantain & Pork Stew?
Puerto Rican one pot like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Added some red pepper flakes for heat — highly recommend.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
